THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


MAKING  MONEY 


MAKING    MONEY 


BY 

OWEN  JOHNSON 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  SALAMANDER,"  "STOVER  AT  YALE,' 


THE   SIXTY-FIRST   SECOND,"   ETC. 


WITH  EIGHT  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 

JA  MES  MONTG  OMER  Y  FLA  G  G 


NEW  YORK 

FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  1915,  by 
FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 

Copyright,  1915,  bj 
THE  RIDGEWAY  COMPANY,  INC. 


All  rights  reserved 


September,  1915 


PS 


J 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

I 


CHAPTER 

I     THE  ARRIVAL 

II  FOUR  AMBITIONS,  AND  THREE  WAYS  TO 

MAKE  MONEY  .......         16 

III  ON  THE  TAIL  OF  A  TERRIER     ....     31 

IV  Bojo's  FATHER 46 

V  DANIEL    DRAKE,    THE    MULTI-MILLION 
AIRE .     58 

VI  Bojo  OBEYS  His  GENERAL  MANAGER       .     67 

VII  UNDER  THE  TICKER'S  TYRANNY    ...     75 

VIII     THE  RETURN  OF  PATSIE 88 

IX  THE  "WEDDING  BALL     .      .     .     .     .      .    100 

X     DRAKE'S  GAME in 

XI    Bojo  BUTTS  IN 122 

XII     SNOW  MAGIC 133 

XIII  Bojo  MAKES  A  DECISION 147 

XIV  THE  CRASH  .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .154 

XV     SUDDEN  WEALTH >  •     •   165 

XVI  Bojo  BEGINS  TO  SPEND  His  QUARTER- 
MILLION     ....;....  173 

XVII  PAYING  THE  PIPER  —  PLUS     ....   184 

XVIII  Bojo  FACES  THE  TRUTH     .     .     .     .  i   .   195 

XIX  A  CHIP  OF  THE  OLD  BLOCK  ....  207 

XX  Bojo  HUNTS  A  JOB  .......  213 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

XXI  Bojo  IN  OVERALLS  . 

XXII  DORIS  MEETS  A  CRISIS  . 

XXIII  THE  LETTER  TO  PATSIE  . 

XXIV  PATSIE  APPEALS  FOR  HELP 
XXV  DRAKE  ADMITS  His  DANGER 

XXVI  A  FIGHT  IN  MILLIONS  . 

XXVII  PATSIE'S  SCHEME     . 

XXVIII  ONE  LAST  CHANCE       .      . 

XIX  THE  DELUGE       .... 

XXX  THE  AFTER- YEARS 


PAGE 

.  222 

•  234 
.  247 

•  259 
.  27O 
.  277 
.  288 

•  3°2 

•  3°9 

•  323 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

" '  Bojo,  you  must  marry  Doris,'  she  said 

brokenly " Frontispiece 

FACING 
PAGE 

"'  Say,  you're  a  judge  of  muscle,  aren't  you?  '       .      .  40 

" '  Just  you  wait ;  you're  going  to  be  one  of  the  big 

men  some  day ! '  " 104 

"  '  Drina,  dear  child,'  he  said  in  a  whisper  "...    144 
"  The  message  was  the  end  of  hope  " 158 

"  '  What  does  all  the  rest  amount  to  ?  '  she  said  breath 
lessly.     '  I  want  you  ' ' 208 

"  '  He  wants  to  see  you  now,'  she  said  "     .  268 

"  '  Your  promise.     No  one  is  to  know  what  I  do  '  "    .  292 


MAKING   MONEY 


CHAPTER  I 

THE   ARRIVAL 

TOWARD  the  close  of  a  pleasant  September 
afternoon,  in  one  of  the  years  when  the  big 
stick  of  President  Roosevelt  was  cudgeling  the  shoul 
ders  of  malefactors  of  great  wealth,  the  feverish 
home-bound  masses  which  poured  into  upper  Fifth 
Avenue  with  the  awakening  of  the  electric  night  were 
greeted  by  the  strangest  of  all  spectacles  which  can 
astound  a  metropolitan  crowd  harassed  by  the  din  of 
sounds,  the  fret  and  fury  of  the  daily  struggle  which 
is  the  tyranny  of  New  York.  A  very  young  man,  of 
clean-cut  limbs  and  boyish  countenance,  absolutely  un 
hurried  amidst  the  press,  without  a  trace  of  preoccu 
pation,  worry,  or  painful  mental  concentration,  was 
swinging  easily  up  the  Avenue  as  though  he  were 
striding  among  green  fields,  head  up,  shoulders 
squared  like  a  grenadier,  without  a  care  in  the  world, 
so  visibly  delighted  at  the  novelty  of  gay  crowds,  of 
towering  buildings  decked  in  electric  garlands,  of  the 
atric  shop-windows,  that  more  than  one  perceiving  this 
open  enthusiasm  smiled  with  a  tolerant  amusement. 

Now  when  a  young  man  appears  thus  on  Fifth 
Avenue,  undriven,  without  preoccupation,  without  a 
contraction  of  the  brows  and  particularly  without  that 


2  MAKING  MONEY 

strained  metropolitan  gaze  of  trying  to  decide  some 
thing  of  importance,  either  he  is  on  his  way  to  the 
station  with  a  coveted  vacation  ahead  or  he  has  been 
in  the  city  less  than  twenty- four  hours.  In  the  pres 
ent  instance  the  latter  hypothesis  was  true. 

Tom  Beauchamp  Crocker,  familiarly  known  as 
Bo  jo,  had  sent  his  baggage  ahead,  eager  to  enjoy  the 
delights  one  enjoys  at  twenty- four,  when  the  long  ap 
prenticeship  of  school  and  college  is  ended  and  the 
city  is  waiting  with  all  the  mystery  of  that  uncharted 
dominion  —  The  World.  He  went  his  way  with  long, 
swinging  steps,  smiling  from  the  pure  delight  of  being 
alive,  amazed  at  everything:  at  the  tangled  stream  of 
nations  flowing  past  him;  at  the  prodigious  number 
of  entrancing  eyes  which  glanced  at  him  from  under 
provoking  brims;  at  the  sheer  flights  of  blazing  win 
dows,  shutting  out  the  feeble  stars ;  at  the  vigor  and 
vitality  on  the  sidewalks;  at  the  flooded  lights  from 
sparkling  shop  windows;  at  the  rolling  procession  of 
incalculable  wealth  on  the  Avenue. 

Everywhere  was  the  stir  of  returning  crowds,  the 
end  of  the  summer's  hot  isolation,  the  reopening  of 
gilded  theaters,  the  thronging  of  hotels,  and  the  dis 
plays  of  radiant  shop  fronts,  preparing  for  the  win 
ter's  campaign.  In  the  crush  of  the  Avenue  was  the 
note  of  home-coming,  in  taxicabs  and  coupes  piled 
high  with  luggage  and  brown-faced  children  hanging 
at  the  windows,  acclaiming  familiar  landmarks  with 
piping  cries.  Tradesmen  and  all  the  world  of  little 
business,  all  the  world  that  must  prepare  to  feed, 
clothe,  and  amuse  the  winter  metropolis,  were  pour 
ing  in. 

And   in    the   midst    of    this    feverish    awaking   of 


THE  ARRIVAL  3 

luxury  and  pleasure  one  felt  at  every  turn  a  new  gen 
eration  of  young  men  storming  every  avenue  with  high 
imaginations,  eager  to  pierce  the  multitudes  and 
emerge  as  masters.  Bojo  himself  had  not  woven  his 
way  three  blocks  before  he  felt  this  imperative  need 
of  a  stimulating  dream,  a  career  to  emulate  —  a  mas 
ter  of  industry  or  a  master  of  men  —  and,  sublimely 
confident,  he  imagined  that  some  day,  not  too  distant, 
he  would  take  his  place  in  the  luxurious  flight  of  auto 
mobiles,  a  personage,  a  future  Morgan  or  a  future 
Roosevelt,  to  be  instantly  recognized,  to  hear  his  name 
on  a  thousand  lips,  never  doubting  that  life  was  only 
a  greater  game  than  the  games  he  had  played,  ruled 
by  the  same  spirit  of  fair  play  with  the  ultimate  prize 
to  the  best  man. 

In  the  crowd  he  perceived  a  familiar  figure,  a  col 
lege  mate  of  the  class  above  him,  and  he  hailed  him 
with  enthusiasm  as  though  the  most  amazing  and  de 
lightful  thing  in  the  world  was  to  be  out  of  college  on 
Fifth  Avenue  and  to  meet  a  friend. 

"Foster!     Hallo  there!" 

At  this  greeting  the  young  man  stopped,  shot  out 
his  hand,  and  rattled  off  in  business  manner :  "  Why, 
Bojo,  how  are  you?  How's  it  going?  Making  lots 
of  money?  " 

"  I've  just  arrived,"  said  Crocker,  somewhat  taken 
back. 

"  That  so  ?  You're  looking  fine.  I'm  in  the  devil 
of  a  rush  —  call  me  up  at  the  club  some  time.  Good 
luck." 

He  was  gone  with  purposeful  steps,  lost  in  the 
quick,  nervous  crowd  before  Crocker  with  a  thwarted 
sense  of  comradeship  could  recover  himself.  A  little 


4 

later  another  acquaintance  responded  to  his  greeting, 
hesitated,  and  offered  his  hand. 

"Hello,  Bojo,  how  are  things?  You  look  pros 
perous;  making  lots  of  money,  I  suppose.  Glad  to 
have  seen  you  —  so  long." 

For  a  second  time  he  felt  a  sense  of  disappoint 
ment.  Every  one  seemed  in  a  hurry,  oppressed  by 
the  hundred  details  to  be  crowded  into  the  too  short 
day.  He  became  aware  of  this  haste  in  the  air  and 
in  the  street.  In  this  speed-driven  world  even  the 
great  stone  flights  seemed  to  have  risen  with  the  hour. 
Dazzling  electric  signs  flashed  in  and  out,  transferring 
themselves  into  bewildering  combinations  with  the  ne 
cessity  of  startling  this  wonder-surfeited  city  into  an 
instant's  recognition.  Electricity  was  in  the  vibrant 
air,  in  the  scurrying  throngs,  in  the  nervous  craving 
of  the  crowd  for  excitement  after  drudgery,  to  be  out, 
to  be  seen  in  brilliant  restaurants,  to  go  with  the  rush 
ing  throngs,  keyed  to  a  higher  tension,  avid  of  lights 
and  thrumming  sounds. 

Insensibly  he  felt  the  stimulus  about  him,  his  own 
gait  adjusted  itself  to  the  rush  of  those  who  jostled 
past  him.  He  began  to  watch  for  openings,  to  dart 
ahead,  to  slip  through  this  group  and  that,  weaving 
his  way  as  though  there  was  something  precious 
ahead,  an  object  to  be  gained  by  the  first  arrival.  All 
at  once  he  perceived  how  unconsciously  he  had  sur 
rendered  to  the  subtle  spirit  of  contention  about  him, 
and  pulled  himself  up,  laughing.  At  this  moment  an 
arm  was  slipped  through  his  and  he  turned  to  find  a 
classmate,  Bob  Crowley,  at  his  side. 

"Whither  so  fast?" 

"  Just  in.     I'm  bound  for  the  diggings." 


THE  ARRIVAL  5 

"  Fred  DeLancy's  been  asking  about  you  for  a 
week.  I  saw  Marsh  and  old  Granny  yesterday.  The 
Big  Four  still  keeping  together  ?  " 

"  Yes,  we're  going  to  stick  together.  How  are 
you?" 

"  Oh,  so-so." 

"  Making  money?  " 

The  salutation  came  like  a  trick  to  his  lips  before 
he  noticed  the  adoption.  Crowley  looked  rather 
pleased. 

"  Thanks,  I've  got  a  pretty  good  thing.  If  you've 
got  any  loose  change  I  can  put  you  on  to  a  cinch. 
Step  into  the  club  a  moment.  You'll  see  a  lot  of  the 
crowd." 

At  the  club,  an  immense  hotel  filled  with  business 
like  young  men  rushing  in  and  rushing  out,  thronging 
the  grill-room  with  hats  and  coats  on,  an  eye  to  the 
clock,  Bojo  was  acclaimed  with  that  rapturous  campus 
enthusiasm  which  greets  a  returned  hero.  The  tribute 
pleased  him,  after  the  journey  through  the  indifferent 
multitude.  It  was  something  to  return  as  even  a  mod 
erate-sized  frog  to  the  small  puddle.  He  wandered 
from  group  to  group,  ensconced  at  round  tables  for  a 
snatched  moment  before  the  call  of  the  evening.  The 
vitality  of  these  groups,  the  conflict  of  sounds  in  the 
low  room,  bewildered  him.  Speculation  was  in  the 
air.  The  bonanza  age  of  American  finance  was  reach 
ing  its  climax.  Immense  corporations  were  being 
formed  overnight  and  stocks  were  mounting  by 
bounds.  All  the  talk  in  corners  was  of  this  tip  and 
that  while  in  the  jumble  staccato  sentences  struck  his 
ear. 

"  A  sure  thing,  Joe  —  I'll  tell  you  where  I  got  it." 


6  MAKING  MONEY 

"  They  say  Harris  cleaned  up  two  thousand  last 
week." 

"  The  amalgamation's  bound  to  go  through." 

"  I'm  in  the  bond  business  now ;  let  me  talk  to  you." 

"  Two  more  years  in  the  law  school,  worse  luck." 

"  At  the  P.  and  S." 

"  They  say  the  Chicago  crowd  made  fifteen  millions 
on  the  rise — " 

"  I  ran  across  Bozer  last  week." 

"  Hello,  Bill,  you  old  scout,  they  tell  me  you're  mak 
ing  money  so  fast — " 

All  the  talk  was  of  business  and  opportunity,  among 
these  graduates  of  a  year  or  two,  eager  and  restless, 
all  keen,  all  confident  of  arriving,  all  watching  with 
vulture-like  sharpness  for  an  opportunity  for  a  killing: 
a  stock  that  was  bound  to  shoot  up  or  to  tumble  down. 
Every  one  seemed  to  be  making  money  or  certain  to 
do  so  soon,  cocksure  of  his  opinion,  prognosticating 
the  trend  of  industry  with  sure  mastery.  Bojo  was 
rather  dazed  by  this  academic  fervor  for1  material  suc 
cess;  it  gave  him  the  feeling  that  the  world  was  after 
all  only  a  postgraduate  course.  He  had  left  a  group, 
with  a  beginning  of  critical  amusement,  when  a  hand 
spun  him  around  and  he  heard  a  well-known  voice  cry : 

"  Bojo  —  you  old  sinner  —  you  come  right  home!  " 

It  was  Roscoe  Marsh,  chum  of  chums,  rather 
slight,  negligently  dressed  among  these  young  men  of 
rather  precise  elegance,  but  dominating  them  all  by 
the  shock  of  an  aggressive  personality  that  stood  out 
against  their  factoried  types.  Just  as  the  generality 
of  men  incline  to  the  fashions  of  conduct,  philosophy, 
and  politics  of  the  day,  there  are  certain  individualities 
constituted  by  nature  to  be  instinctively  of  the  op- 


THE  ARRIVAL  7 

position.  Marsh,  finding  himself  in  a  complacent  so 
ciety,  became  a  terrific  radical,  perhaps  more  from 
the  necessity  of  dramatic  sensations  which  was  inher 
ent  in  his  brilliant  nature- than  from  a  profound  con 
viction.  His  features  were  irregular,  the  nose  power 
ful  and  aquiline,  the  eyebrows  arched  with  a  sugges 
tion  of  eloquence  and  imagination,  the  eyes  gray  and 
domineering,  the  mouth  wide  and  expressive  of  every 
changing  thought,  while  the  outstanding  ears  on  the 
thin,  curved  head  completed  an  accent  of  oddity  and 
obstinacy  which  he  himself  had  characterized  good- 
humoredly  when  he  had  described  himself  as  looking 
like  "a  poetical  calf."  Roscoe  Marsh,  the  father  — 
editor,  politician,  and  capitalist,  one  of  the  figures  of 
the  last  generation  —  had  died,  leaving  him  a  fortune. 

"  What  the  deuce  are  you  wasting  time  in  this  col 
lection  of  fashion-plates  and  messenger-boys  for?" 
said  Marsh  when  the  greetings  were  over.  "  Come 
out  into  the  air  where  we  can  talk  sense.  When  did 
you  come  ?  " 

"  An  hour  ago." 

"  Fred  and  Granny  have  been  here  all  summer. 
You're  a  pampered  darling,  Bo  jo,  to  get  a  summer  off. 
What  was  it  —  heart  interest?  " 

"  Ask  me  no  questions,  I'll  tell  you  no  lies,"  said 
Bojo  with  a  half  laugh  and  a  whirl  of  his  cane.  "  By 
George,  Roscy,  it's  good  to  be  here ! " 

"  We'll  get  you  to  work." 

"  Who  could  help  it  ?  I  say,  is  every  one  making 
money  in  this  place?  I've  heard  nothing  else  since 
I  landed." 

"  On  paper,  yes,  but  you  don't  make  money  till  you 
hear  it  chink,  as  lots  will  find  out,"  said  Marsh  with 


8  MAKING  MONEY 

a  laugh.  "  However,  this  place's  a  regular  mining- 
camp  —  every  one's  speculating.  I  say,  what  are  you 
going  to  do  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I'm  going  into  Wall  Street  too,  I  suppose. 
I  spent  a  month  with  Dan  Drake." 

" — And  daughter." 

"  And  daughters,"  said  Bojo,  smiling.  "  I  think 
I'll  have  a  good  opening  there  —  after  I  learn  the 
ropes,  of  course." 

"  Drake,  eh,"  said  Marsh  reflectively,  naming  one 
of  the  boldest  manipulators  of  the  day.  "  Well,  you 
ought  to  get  plenty  of  excitement  out  of  that.  No 
use  my  tempting  you  with  a  newspaper  job,  then.  But 
how  about  your  Governor?  " 

Bojo  became  quiet,  whistling  to  himself.  "  I've  got 
a  bad  half-hour  there,"  he  said  solemnly.  "  I've  got 
to  fight  it  out  with  the  old  man  as  soon  as  he  arrives. 
You  know  what  he  thinks  of  Wall  Street." 

"  I  like  your  Governor." 

"  So  do  I.     The  trouble  is  we're  too  much  alike." 

"  So  you've  made  up  your  mind?  " 

"  I  have ;  no  mills  and  drudgery  for  me." 

"  Well,  if  you've  made  up  your  mind,  you've  made 
it  up,"  said  Marsh  a  little  anxiously. 

In  college  the  saying  was  that  "  Marsh  would  sput 
ter  but  Crocker  would  stick,"  and  this  byword  ex 
pressed  the  difference  between  them.  One  attacked 
and  the  other  entrenched.  Crocker  had  an  intense  ad 
miration  for  Marsh,  for  whom  he  believed  all  things 
possible.  As  they  walked  side  by  side,  Bojo  was  the 
more  agreeable  to  the  eye;  there  was  an  instinctive 
sense  of  pleasing  about  him.  He  liked  most  men,  so 
genuinely  interested  in  their  problems  and  point  of 


THE  ARRIVAL  9 

view  that  few  could  resist  his  good  nature.  Mentally 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  the  world  he  was  much  the 
younger.  There  was  a  boyishness  and  an  unsophisti- 
cation  about  him  that  was  in  the  clear  forehead  and 
laughing  brown  eyes,  in  the  spontaneous  quality  of  his 
smile,  the  spring  in  his  feet,  the  general  enthusiasm 
for  all  that  was  new  or  difficult.  But  underneath  this 
easy  manner  there  was  a  dangerous  obstinacy  ready 
to  flare  up  at  an  instant's  provocation,  which  showed 
in  the  lower  jaw  slightly  undershot,  which  gave  the 
lips  a  look  of  being  pugnaciously  compressed.  He 
was  implacable  in  a  hatred  or  a  fight,  blind  to  the 
faults  of  a  friend,  and  stubborn  in  his  opinions. 

"What  sort  of  quarters  have  we  got?"  asked 
Bojo,  who  had  left  the  detail  to  his  three  friends. 

"The  queerest  spot  in  New  York  —  the  cave  of 
Ali  Baba.  Wait  till  you  see  it  —  you'd  never  believe 
it.  Hidden  as  safe  as  a  needle  in  a  haystack.  No 
more  than  a  stone's  throw  from  here,  and  you'd  never 
guess  it." 

He  stopped,  for  at  this  moment  they  entered  Times 
Square  under  the  shadow  of  the  incredible  tower,  daz 
zled  by  the  sudden  ambuscade  of  lights  which  flamed 
about  them.  Marsh,  who  could  never  brook  waiting, 
without  having  altered  his  pace  made  a  wide  detouf 
amid  a  jam  of  automobiles,  dodged  two  surface  cars 
and  a  file  of  trucks,  and  arrived  at  the  opposite  curb 
considerably  after  Crocker,  who  had  waited  for  the 
direct  route.  Neither  perceived  how  characteristic  of 
their  divergent  temperaments  this  incident  had  been. 
But  Marsh,  whose  spirit  was  irreverence,  exclaimed 
contemptuously : 

"The  Great  White  Way.     What  a  sham!"     He 


10  MAKING  MONEY 

extended  his  arm  with  an  extravagant  gesture,  as 
much  as  to  say,  "  I  could  change  all  that/5  and  con 
tinued  :  "  Look  at  it.  There  are  not  ten  buildings  on 
it  that  will  last  five  years.  Take  away  the  electric 
advertisements  and  you'll  see  it  as  it  is  —  a  main 
street  in  a  mining  town.  All  the  rest  is  shanty  civ 
ilization,  that  will  come  tumbling  down  like  a  pack  of 
cards.  Look  at  it;  a  few  hidden  theaters  with  an 
entrance  squeezed  between  a  cigar-store  and  a  haber 
dashery,  restaurants  on  one  floor,  and  the  rest  adver 
tisements." 

"  Still  it  gives  you  quite  a  feeling,"  said  Bojo  in 
dissent,  caught  in  the  surging  currents  of  automobiles 
and  the  mingled  throngs  of  late  workers  and  early 
pleasure-seekers.  "  There's  an  exhilaration  about  it 
all.  It  does  wake  you  up." 

"  Think  of  a  city  of  five  thousand  millionaires  that 
can  build  a  hundred  business  cathedrals  a  year,  that 
has  an  opera  house  with  the  front  of  a  warehouse  and 
calls  a  row  of  squatty  booths  luxury.  Well,  never 
mind ;  here  we  are.  Rub  your  eyes." 

They  had  left  the  roar  and  brilliancy  of  the  curi 
ously  blended  mass  behind,  plunging  down  a  squalid 
side  street  with  tenements  in  the  dark  distances,  when 
Marsh  came  to  a  stop  before  two  green  pillars,  above 
which  a  swaying  sign  announced  — 


WESTOVER    COURT 

BACHELOR   APARTMENTS 


Before  Bojo  could  recover  from  his  astonishment, 
he  found  himself  conducted  through  a  long,  irregular 
monastic  hall  flooded  with  mellow  lights  and  sudden 


THE  ARRIVAL  11 

arches,  and  as  bewilderingly  introduced,  in  a  sort  of 
Arabian  Nights'  adventure,  into  an  oasis  of  quiet  and 
green  things.  They  were  in  an  inner  court  shut  in 
from  the  outer  world  by  the  rise  of  a  towering  wall 
at  one  end  and  at  the  other  by  the  blazing  glass  back 
of  a  great  restaurant.  In  the  heart  of  the  noisiest, 
vilest,  most  brutal  struggle  of  the  city  lay  this  little 
bit  of  the  Old  World,  decked  in  green  plots,  with  vine- 
covered  fountain  and  a  stone  Cupid  perched  on  tip 
toe,  and  above  a  group  of  dream  trees  filling  the  lu 
cent  yellow  and  green  enclosure  with  a  miraculous 
foliage.  Lights  blazed  in  a  score  of  windows  above 
them,  while  at  four  medieval  entrances,  of  curved 
doorways  under  sloping  green  aprons,  the  suffused 
glow  of  iron  lanterns  seemed  like  distant  signals  lost 
in  a  fog.  Everything  about  them  was  so  remote  from 
the  stress  and  fury  out  of  which  they  had  stepped,  that 
Bojo  exclaimed  in  astonishment: 

"Impossible!" 

"  Isn't  it  bully  ?  "  said  Marsh  enthusiastically.  "  AH 
Baba  Court  I  call  it.  That's  what  a  touch  of  imagi 
nation  can  do  in  New  York.  I  say,  look  over  here. 
What  do  you  think  of  this  for  a  quiet  pipe  at 
night?" 

He  drew  him  under  the  trees,  where  a  table  and 
comfortable  chairs  were  waiting.  Above  the  low 
roofs  high  against  the  blue-black  sky  the  giant  city 
came  peeping  down  upon  them  from  the  regimented 
globes  of  fire  on  the  Astor  roof.  A  milky  flag  drifted 
lazily  across  an  aigrette  of  steam.  To  the  right,  the 
top  of  the  Times  Tower,  divorced  from  all  the  ugliness 
at  its  feet,  rose  like  an  historic  campanile  played  about 
by  timid  stars.  Over  the  roof-tops  the  hum  of  the 


12  MAKING  MONEY 

city,  never  stilled,  turned  like  a  great  wheel,  inces 
santly,  with  faint,  detached  sounds  pleasantly  audible: 
a  bell;  a  truck  moving  like  a  shrieking  shell;  the  im 
pertinent  honk  of  taxis;  urchins  on  wheels;  the  shat 
tering  rush  of  distant  iron  bodies  tearing  through  the 
air;  an  extra  cried  on  a  shriller  note;  the  ever-recur 
ring  pipe  of  a  police  whistle  compelling  order  in  the 
confusion;  fog  horns  from  the  river,  and  underneath 
something  more  elusive  and  confused,  the  churning  of 
great  human  masses  passing  and  repassing. 

Marsh  gave  a  peculiar  whistle  and  instantly  at  a 
window  on  the  second  floor  a  shadowy  figure  ap 
peared,  the  sash  went  up  with  a  bang,  and  a  cheery 
voice  exclaimed: 

"  Hello,  below  there !  Is  that  Bo  jo  with  you  ? 
Come  up  and  show  your  handsome  map ! " 

"  Coming,  Freddie,  coming,"  said  Bojo  with  a  laugh, 
and,  plunging  into  a  swinging  entrance,  he  found  him 
self  in  a  cozy  den,  almost  thrown  off  his  feet  by  the 
greetings  of  a  little  fellow  who  dived  at  him  with  the 
frenzy  of  a  faithful  dog. 

"  Well,  old  fashion-plate,  how  are  you  ?  "  Bojo  said 
at  last,  flinging  him  across  the  room.  "  Been  into  any 
more  trouble?" 

"  Nope.  That  is,  not  lately,"  said  DeLancy,  pick 
ing  himself  up.  "  Haven't  a  chance,  living  with  two 
policemen.  What  kept  you  all  this  time?  Fallen  in 
love?" 

"  None  of  your  damned  business.  By  George,  this 
looks  homelike,"  said  Bojo  to  turn  the  conversation. 
On  the  walls  were  a  hundred  mementoes  of  school  and 
college,  while  a  couple  of  lounges  and  several  great 
chairs  were  indolently  grouped  about  the  fireplace, 


THE  ARRIVAL  13 

where  a  fire  was  laid.  "  I  say,  Roscy,  has  the  infant 
really  been  behaving?  " 

"  Well,  we  haven't  bailed  him  out  yet,"  said  Marsh 
meditatingly. 

Fred  DeLancy  had  been  in  trouble  all  his  life  and 
out  of  it  as  easily.  Trouble,  as  he  himself  expressed 
it,  woke  up  the  moment  he  went  out.  He  had  been 
suspended  and  threatened  with  expulsion  for  one 
scrape  after  another  more  times  than  he  could  remem 
ber.  But  there  was  something  that  instantly  dis 
armed  anger  in  the  odd  star-pointing  nose,  the  twinkly 
eyes,  and  the  wide  mouth  set  at  a  perpetual  grin.  One 
way  or  another  he  wriggled  through  regions  where 
angels  fear  to  tread,  assisted  by  much  painful  effort 
on  the  part  of  his  friends. 

"  I'm  getting  frightfully  serious,"  he  said  with  mock 
contrition.  "I'm  getting  to  be  an  old  man ;  the  cares 
of  life  and  all  that  sort  of  stuff." 

He  broke  off  and  flung  himself  at  the  piano,  where 
he  started  an  improvisation: 

"  The  cares  of  life, 

This  dreadful  strife, 

I'll  take  a  wife  — 

No,  change  the  rhyme 

I  haven't  time 

For  matrimony  —  O ! 

Leave  that  to  handsome  Bojo 

Bo  jo's  in  love, 

Blush  like  a  dove  — 

"  No,  doves  don't  blush,"  he  said,  swinging  around. 
"  Do  they  or  don't  they  ?  Anyhow,  a  dove  in  love 
might —  To  continue: 

"  Bo  jo's  in  love, 
Blush  like  a  dove, 
Won't  tell  her  name, 
I'll  guess  the  same — " 


14  MAKING  MONEY 

But  at  this  moment,  just  as  a  pillow  came  hurtling 
through  the  air,  the  doorway  was  filled  with  a  great 
body  and  George  Granning  came  crowding  into  the 
room,  hand  out,  a  smile  on  his  honest,  open  face. 

"  Hello,  Tom,  it's  good  to  see  you  again." 

"  The  government  can  go  on,"  said  DeLancy  joy 
fully.  "We're  here!" 

As  the  four  sat  grouped  about  the  room  they  pre 
sented  one  of  those  strange  combinations  of  friendship 
which  could  only  result  from  the  process  of  American 
education.  Four  more  dissimilar  individualities  could 
not  have  been  molded  together  except  by  the  curious 
selective  processes  of  an  academic  society  system.  The 
Big  Four,  as  they  had  been  dubbed  (there  is  always  a 
Big  Four  in  every  school  and  college),  had  come  from 
Andover  linked  by  the  closest  ties,  and  this  intimacy 
had  never  relaxed,  despite  all  the  incongruous  opposi 
tion  of  their  beginnings. 

Marsh  was  a  New  Yorker,  an  aristocrat  by  inherit 
ance  and  by  force  of  fortune ;  Crocker  a  Yankee,  son  of 
a  keen,  self-made  father,  who  had  fought  his  way  up  to 
a  position  of  mastery  in  the  woolen  mills  of  New  Eng 
land;  DeLancy  from  Detroit,  of  more  modest  means, 
son  of  a  small  business  man,  to  whom  his  education  had 
meant  a  genuine  sacrifice;  while  George  Granning, 
older  by  many  years  than  the  rest,  wras  evidence  of  that 
genius  for  evolution  that  stirs  in  the  American  mass. 
They  knew  but  little  of  his  history  beyond  \vhat  he  had 
chosen  to  confide  in  his  silent,  reserved  way. 

He  had  the  torso  of  a  stevedore,  the  neck  and  hands 
of  the  laborer,  while  the  boulder-like  head,  though  de 
void  of  the  lighter  graces  of  imagination  and  wit,  had 
certain  immovable  qualities  of  persistence  and  determi- 


THE  ARRIVAL  15 

nation  in  the  strongly  hewn  jaw  and  firm,  high-cheek 
bones.  He  was  tow-headed  and  blue-eyed,  of  unfailing 
good  humor,  like  most  men  of  great  strength.  Only 
once  had  he  been  known  to  lose  his  temper,  and  that 
was  in  a  football  match  in  his  first  year  in  the  'varsity. 
His  opponent,  doubtless  hoping  to  intimidate  the  fresh 
man,  struck  him  a  blow  across  the  face  under  cover  of 
the  first  scrimmage.  Before  the  half  was  over  the  bat 
tering  he  had  received  from  the  enraged  Granning  was 
so  terrific  that  he  had  to  be  transferred  to  the  other 
side  of  the  line. 

Granning  had  worked  his  way  through  Andover  by 
menial  service  at  the  beginning,  gradually  advancing 
by  acquiring  the  agencies  for  commercial  fields  and 
doing  occasional  tutoring.  His  summers  had  been 
given  over  to  work  in  foundries  and  in  preparation  for 
the  business  career  he  had  chosen  long  ago.  He  was 
deeply  religious  in  a  quiet,  unostentatious  way.  That 
there  had  been  stormy  days  in  the  beginning,  tragedies 
perhaps,  the  friends  divined;  besides,  there  were  lines 
in  his  face,  stern  lines  of  pain  and  hardship,  that  had 
been  softened  but  could  never  disappear. 


CHAPTER  II 

FOUR  AMBITIONS,  AND  THREE  WAYS  TO  MAKE  MONEY 

'T'HEY  dined  that  night  on  the  top  of  the  As- 
1  tor  roof,  where  in  the  midst  of  aerial  gardens 
one  forgot  that  another  city  waited  toiling  below. 
Their  table  was  placed  by  an  embrasure  from  which 
they  could  scan  the  dark  reaches  toward  the  west 
where  the  tenements  of  the  city,  broken  by  the  occa 
sional  uprising  of  a  blatant  sign,  mathematically  di 
vided  into  squares  by  rows  of  sentinel  lights,  rolled 
somberly  toward  the  river.  To  the  south,  vaguely  de 
fined  by  the  converging  watery  darkness,  the  city  ran 
down  to  flaming  towers  in  the  glistening  haze  that 
seemed  a  luminous  vapor  rising  from  dazzling  ave 
nues. 

Wherever  the  eye  could  see  myriad  lights  were 
twinkling:  brooding  and  fraught  with  the  dark 
mystery  of  lonely,  distant  river  banks ;  red,  green  and 
golden  on  the  rivers,  crossing  busily  on  a  purposeful 
way;  intruding  and  bewildering  in  the  service  of  in 
dustry  from  steel  skeletons  against  the  sky;  magic 
and  dreamlike  on  the  fairy  spread  of  miraculous 
bridges;  winking  and  dancing  with  the  spirit  of 
gaiety  from  the  theaters  below  and  the  roof  gardens 
above ;  that  in  the  summer,  suddenly  spread  a  new  and 
brilliant  city  of  the  night  above  the  tired  metropolis 
of  the  day.  Looking  down  on  these  myriad  points 
of  light  one  seemed  to  have  suddenly  come  upon  the 

16 


FOUR  AMBITIONS  17 

nesting  of  the  stars,  where  planets  and  constellations 
germinated  and  took  flight  toward  the  swarming  firm 
ament. 

The  incomparable  drama  of  the  spectacle  affected 
the  four  young  men  on  the  threshold  of  life  in  a  dif 
ferent  way.  Bojo,  to  whom  the  sensation  was  new, 
felt  a  sort  of  prophetic  stimulation  as  though  in  the 
glittering  sweep  below  lay  the  jewel  which  he  was  to 
carry  off.  Granning,  who  had  broken  into  the  monas 
tic  routine  of  his  life  to  make  an  exception  of  this 
gathering  of  the  clans,  looked  out  in  reverence,  stirred 
to  deeper  questionings  of  the  spirit.  Marsh,  more 
dramatically  attuned,  felt  a  sensation  of  weakness, 
as  though  suddenly  confronted  with  the  gigantic 
scheme  of  the .  multitude ;  he  felt  the  impotence  of 
single  effort.  While  DeLancy,  who  dined  thus  every 
night,  seeing  no  further  than  the  festooned  gardens, 
the  brilliant  splashes  of  color,  the  faces  of  women 
flushed  in  the  yellow  glow  of  candle-lights,  hearing 
only  the  pleasant  thrumming  sounds  of  a  hidden  or 
chestra,  rattled  on  in  his  privileged  way. 

"  Well,  now  that  the  Big  Four  is  together  again, 
let's  divide  up  the  city."  He  sent  a  sweeping  gesture 
toward  the  stenciled  stretch  of  blocks  below  and  con 
tinued  :  "  Roscy,  what'll  you  have  ?  Take  your 
choice.  I'll  have  a  couple  of  hotels,  a  yacht  and  a  box 
at  the  opera.  Next  bidder,  please !  " 

But  Bojo  without  attention  to  this  chatter  said : 

"  Remember  the  night  before  we  went  to  college 
and  we  picked  out  what  we  intended  to  make.  Came 
pretty  close  to  it  too,  didn't  we?  " 

Marsh  looked  up  quickly,  seized  by  a  sudden  dra 
matic  suggestion. 


18  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Well,  here  we  are  again.  I'll  tell  you  what  we'll 
do.  Let's  tell  the  truth  —  no  buncombe  —  just  what 
each  expects  to  get  out  of  life." 

"But  will  we  tell  the  truth?"  said  Bojo  doubt 
fully. 

"  I  will." 

"  Of  course  we  all  want  to  make  a  million  first," 
said  Fred  DeLancy,  laughing.  "  Roscy's  got  his,  so 
I  suppose  he  wants  ten.  First  place,  is  it  admitted 
each  of  us  wants  a  million?  Every  properly  brought 
up  young  American  ought  to  believe  in  that,  oughtn't 
he?" 

"  Freddie,  behave  yourself,"  said  Bojo  severely. 
"  Be  serious." 

"  Serious,"  said  DeLancy,  with  an  offended  air. 
"  I'll  be  more  serious  than  any  of  you  and  I'll  tell 
more  of  the  truth  and  when  I  do  you  won't  believe 
me." 

"  Go  on,  Roscy,  start  first." 

"  Freddie's  right  in  one  respect.  I  intend  to  treble 
what  I've  got  in  ten  years  or  go  bankrupt,"  said  Marsh 
instantly.  He  flung  the  stub  of  his  cigar  out  into  the 
night,  watched  it  a  moment  in  earthbound  descent, 
and  then  leaned  forward  over  the  table,  elbows  down, 
hands  clasped,  the  lights  laying  deep  shadows  about 
the  hollowed  eyes,  the  outstanding  ears  accentuating 
the  irregularity  and  oddity  of  the  head.  "  I'm  not 
sure  but  that  would  be  the  best  thing  for  me.  If  I 
had  to  start  at  the  bottom  I  believe  I'd  do  something. 
I  mean  something  big." 

A  half -concealed  smile  passed  about  the  group,  ac 
customed  to  the  speaker's  dramatic  instincts. 

"  Well,  I've  got  to  start  at  life  in  a  different  way. 


FOUR  AMBITIONS  19 

The  trouble  is,  in  this  American  scheme  I  have  no 
natural  place  unless  I  make  one.  Abroad  I  could  set 
tle  down  to  genteel  loafing  and  find  a  lot  of  other  con 
genial  loafers,  who  would  gamble,  hunt,  fish,  race, 
globe-trot,  beat  up  Africa  in  search  of  big  sport,  or 
drift  around  fashionable  capitals  for  a  bit  of  amuse 
ment;  either  that  or  if  I  wanted  to  develop  along  the 
line  of  brains  there's  a  career  in  politics  or  a  chance 
at  diplomacy.  Here  we  are  developing  millionaires 
as  fast  as  we  can  turn  them  out  and  never  thinking 
how  we  can  employ  them.  What's  the  result?  The 
daughters  of  great  fortunes  marry  foreign  titles  as 
fast  as  they  get  the  chance  in  order  to  get  the  oppor 
tunity  to  enjoy  their  wealth  to  the  fullest,  because 
here  there  is  no  class  so  limited  and  circumscribed 
without  national  significance  as  our  so-called  Four 
Hundred;  the  sons  either  become  dissipated  loafers, 
professional  amateurs  of  sport,  or  are  condemned  to 
piling  more  dollars  on  dollars,  which  is  an  absurdity." 

"  I  grieve  for  the  millionaire,"  interjected  DeLancy 
flippantly. 

"  And  yet  you  want  to  triple  what  you've  got,"  said 
Bojo  with  a  smile. 

"I'm  coming  to  that  —  wait.  Now  the  idea  of 
money  grubbing  is  distasteful  to  me.  What  I  want 
is  a  great  opportunity  which  only  money  can  give. 
I  have,  I  suppose,  if  a  conservative  estimate  could  be 
made,  pretty  close  to  two  million  dollars  —  which 
means  around  one  hundred  thousand  a  year.  Now  if 
I  want  to  settle  down  and  marry,  that's  a  lot;  but 
if  I  want  to  go  in  and  compete  with  other  men,  the 
leaders,  that's  nothing  at  all.  Now  the  principal  in 
terest  I've  got  ahead  is  the  Morning  Post;  it's  not  all 


20  MAKING  MONEY 

mine,  but  the  controlling  share  is.  It's  a  good  con 
servative  nursery  rocking-horse.  It  can  go  rocking 
on  for  another  twenty  years,  satisfied  with  its  little 
rut.  Now  do  you  understand  why  I  want  more 
money?  I  want  a  million  clear  to  throw  into  it.  I 
don't  want  it  to  be  a  profitable  high-class  publication 

—  I  want  it  to  be  the  paper  in  New  York." 

"  But  are  you  willing  to  go  slow,  to  learn  every 
rope  first?  "  said  Granning  with  a  shake  of  his  head. 

"  You  know  I  am,"  said  Marsh  impatiently.  "  I've 
plugged  at  it  harder  than  any  one  on  the  paper  this 
summer  and  last  too." 

"  Yes,  you  work  hard  —  and  play  hard  too,"  Gran 
ning  admitted. 

Marsh  accepted  the  admission  with  a  pleased  smile 
and  continued  enthusiastically : 

"  Exactly.  Win  or  lose,  play  the  limit !  That's 
my  motto,  and  there's  something  glorious  in  it.  I'm 
going  to  work  hard,  but  I'm  going  to  play  just  as 
hard.  I  want  to  live  life  to  its  fullest;  I  want  to  get 
every  sensation  out  of  it.  And  when  I'm  ready  I'm 
going  to  make  the  paper  a  force,  I'm  going  to  make 
myself  feared.  I  want  to  round  myself  out.  I  want 
to  touch  everything  that  I  can,  but  above  all  I  want 
to  be  on  the  fighting  line.  After  this  period  of  finan 
cial  buccaneering  there's  going  to  come  a  great  period 

—  a  radical  period,  the  period  of  young  men." 

"  Roscy,  you  want  to  be  noticed,"  said  DeLancy. 

"  I  admit  it.  If  you  had  what  I  have,  wouldn't 
you?  I  repeat,  I  want  the  sensation  of  living  in  the 
big  way.  Granning  shakes  his  head  —  I  know  what 
he's  thinking." 


FOUR  AMBITIONS  21 

"  Roscy,  you're  a  gambler,"  said  Granning,  but 
without  saying  all  he  thought. 

"  I  am,  but  I'm  going  to  gamble  for  power,  which 
is  different,  and  that's  the  first  step  to-day;  that's 
what  they  all  have  done." 

"  You  haven't  told  us  what  your  ambition  is," 
said  Bojo. 

"  I  want  to  make  of  the  Morning  Post  not  simply 
a  great  paper  but  a  great  institution,"  said  Marsh 
seriously.  "  I  believe  the  newspaper  can  be  made 
the  force  that  the  church  once  was.  Now  the  church 
was  dominant  only  as  it  entered  into  every  side  of 
the  life  of  the  community;  when  it  was  not  simply 
the  religious  and  political  force,  but  greater  still,  the 
social  force.  I  believe  the  newspaper  will  become 
great  as  it  satisfies  every  need  of  the  human  imag 
ination.  There  are  papers  that  print  a  Sunday  ser 
mon.  I  would  have  a  religious  page  every  day, 
just  as  you  print  a  woman's  page  and  a  children's 
page.  I'd  run  a  legal  bureau  free  or  at  nominal 
charges,  and  conduct  aggressive  campaigns  against 
petty  abuses.  I'd  organize  the  financial  department 
so  as  to  make  it  personal  to  every  subscriber,  with  an 
investment  bureau  which  would  offer  only  a  care 
fully  selected  list  for  conservative  investors  and 
would  refuse  to  deal  in  seven  per  cent,  bonds  and  fif 
teen  per  cent,  shares.  I  would  have  a  great  audi 
torium  where  concerts  and  plays  would  be  given  at 
no  higher  price  than  fifty  cents." 

"  Hold  up !  How  could  you  get  plays  on  such 
conditions?"  said  DeLancy,  who  had  been  held 
breathless  by  this  Utopian  scheme. 


22  MAKING  MONEY 

"Any  manager  in  the  city  with  a  sense  of  pub 
licity  would  jump  at  the  chance  of  giving  an  after 
noon  performance,  expenses  paid,  under  such  con 
ditions,  especially  as  the  list  would  be  guaranteed. 
Then,  above  all,  I'd  give  the  public  fiction,  the  best 
I  could  get  and  first  hand.  What  do  you  think  gives 
Le  Petit  Parisien  and  Le  Petit  Journal  a  circulation 
of  about  a  million  each  and  all  over  France?  Serial 
novels.  Do  you  know  the  circulation  of  papers  in 
New  York?  There  are  only  three  over  a  hundred 
thousand  and  the  greatest  has  hardly  a  quarter  of 
a  million.  However,  I  won't  go  on.  You  see  my 
ideas  make  an  institution  —  the  modern  institution, 
replacing  and  absorbing  all  past  institutions." 

"  And  what  else  do  you  want  ?  "  said  Bojo,  laugh 
ing. 

"  I  want  that  by  the  time  I'm  thirty-five.  I  want 
ten  millions  and  I  want  to  be  at  forty  either  senator 
or  ambassador  to  Paris  or  London.  I  want  to  build 
a  yacht  that  will  defend  the  American  cup  and  to 
own  a  horse  that  will  win  the  derby." 

"  And  will  you  marry  ?  " 

"  The  most  beautiful  woman  in  America." 

The  four  burst  into  laughter  simultaneously,  none 
more  heartily  than  Marsh,  who  added : 

"  Remember,  we're  to  tell  the  truth,  and  that's 
what  I'd  like  to  do."  He  concluded :  "  Win  or  lose, 
play  the  limit.  Never  mind,  Granny;  when  I'm 
broke,  you'll  give  me  a  job.  Up  to  you.  Confess." 

Granning  began  diffidently,  for  he  was  always 
slow  at  speech  and  the  fluency  of  Marsh's  recital  in 
timidated  him. 

"  I  don't  know  that  there's  anything  so  interesting 


FOUR  AMBITIONS  9& 

in  my  future,"  he  began,  turning  the  menu  nerv 
ously  in  his  hands  and  fixing  a  spot  on  the  tablecloth 
where  a  wine  stain  broke  the  white  monotony.  "  You 
see,  I'm  different  from  you  fellows.  You're  facing 
life  in  a  different  sort  of  way.  I'm  not  sure  but 
what  there's  more  danger  in  it  than  you  think,  but 
the  fact  is  you're  all  looking  for  the  gamble.  You 
want  what  you  want,  Roscy,  by  the  time  you're 
thirty-five.  Bojo  and  Fred  want  a  million  by  the 
time  they're  thirty.  You're  looking  for  the  easy  way 
—  the  quick  way.  You  may  get  it  and  then  you  may 
not.  You've  got  friends,  opportunities  —  perhaps 
you  will." 

"  That's  where  you'll  never  learn,  you  old  fossil," 
said  Marsh.  "If  you'd  get  out  and  meet  people, 
why,  some  time  you'd  strike  a  man  with  a  nice  fat 
•contract  in  his  pocket  looking  for  just  the  reliable  — " 
he  stopped,  not  wishing  to  add,  "  old  plodder  that 
you  are." 

Granning  shook  his  head  emphatically.  Among 
these  boyish  types  he  seemed  of  another  generation, 
a  rather  roughly  hewn  type  of  a  district  leader  of 
fixed  purpose  and  irresistible  momentum. 

"  Not  for  me,"  he  said  decisively.  "  There's  one 
thing  I've  got  strong,  where  I  have  the  start  over 
you  and  a  good  thing  it  is,  too:  I  know  my  limita 
tions.  I'm  not  starting  where  you  are.  My  son  will ; 
I'm  not.  Hold  up ;  it'?  the  truth,  and  the  truth  is  what 
we're  telling.  You  can  gamble  with  life  —  you've 
got  something  to  fall  back  on.  I'm  the  fellow  who's 
got  to  build.  Yes,  I'll  be  honest.  I  want  to  make 
a  million,  too,  I  suppose,  as  Fred  said,  like  every 
American  does.  After  all,  if  you're  out  to  make 


24  MAKING  MONEY 

money,  it's  a  good  thing  to  try  for  something  high. 
There  isn't  much  chance  for  romance  in  what  I'm 
doing.  I've  got  to  go  up  step  by  step,  but  it  means 
more  to  me  to  get  a  fifty-dollar  raise  than  that  next 
million  can  mean  to  you,  Roscy.  That's  because  I 
look  back,  because  I  remember." 

He  stopped  and  the  memories  of  the  existence  out 
of  which  he  had  dragged  himself,  of  which  he  never 
spoke,  threw  thoughtful  shadows  over  the  broad 
forehead.  All  at  once,  taking  a  knife,  he  drew  a 
long  straight  line  on  the  table,  inclining  upward  like 
the  slope  of  a  hill,  with  a  cross  at  the  bottom  and 
one  at  the  top,  while  the  others  looked  on,  puzzled. 

"  You  see  there's  not  much  banging  of  drums  or 
dancing  in  what  I've  got  ahead  and  not  much  to  tell 
until  I  get  there.  You  know  how  a  mole  travels; 
well,  that's  me."  He  laid  his  finger  on  the  cross  at 
the  bottom  and  then  shifted  it  to  the  cross  at  the  top. 
"  Here's  where  I  go  in  and  here's  where  I  come  out 
In  between  doesn't  count." 

"And  what  besides  that?"  said  Bojo. 

"  Well,"  said  Granning  simply,  "  I  don't  know  what 
else.  I'd  like  to  get  off  for  a  couple  of  months  and 
see  Europe  and  what  they're  doing  over  in  France 
and  Germany  in  the  steel  line." 

"  But  all  that'll  happen.  What  would  you  really 
like  to  get  out  of  life?  "  said  Marsh,  smiling — "  you 
old  unimaginative  bear!  " 

"  I'd  like  to  go  into  politics  in  the  right  sort  of 
way;  I  think  every  man  ought.  Perhaps  I'll  marry, 
have  a  home  and  all  that  sort  of  thing  some  day.  I 
think  what  I'd  like  best  would  be  to  get  a  chance 


FOUR  AMBITIONS  25 

to  run  a  factory  along  certain  lines  I've  thought  out 
—  a  cooperative  arrangement  in  a  way.  There's  so 
much  to  be  worked  out  along  the  lines  of  organiza 
tion  and  efficiency."  He  thought  over  the  situation 
a  moment  and  then  concluded  with  sudden  diffidence 
as  though  surprised  at  the  daring  of  his  self-confes 
sion.  "  That's  about  all  there  is  to  it,  I  guess." 

When  he  had  ended  thus  clumsily,  DeLancy  took 
up  immediately,  but  without  that  spirit  of  good-hu 
mored  raillery  which  was  characteristic.  When  he 
spoke  in  matter-of-fact,  direct  phrases,  the  three 
friends  looked  at  him  in  astonishment,  realizing  all 
at  once  an  undivined  intent  underneath  all  the  light 
ness  of  that  attitude  by  which  they  had  judged  him. 

"  One  thing  Granning  said  strikes  at  me  —  know 
ing  your  limitations,"  he  said  with" a  certain  defiance, 
as  though  aware  that  he  was  going  to  shock  them. 
"  I  suppose  you  fellows  think  of  me  as  a  merry  little 
jester,  an  amusing  loafer,  happy-go-lucky  and  all 
that  sort  of  stuff.  Well,  you're  mistaken.  I  know 
my  limitations,  I  know  what  I  can  do  and  what  I 
can't.  I'm  just  as  anxious  to  get  ahead  as  any  of 
you,  and  you  can  bet  I  don't  fool  myself.  I  don't 
sit  down  and  say,  '  Freddie,  you've  got  railroads  in 
your  head  —  you're  an  organizer  —  you'd  shine  at 
the  bar  —  you'd  push  John  Rockefeller  off  the  map,' 
or  any  of  that  rot.  No,  sir !  I  know  where  I  stand. 
On  a  straight  out-and-out  proposition  I  wouldn't  be 
worth  twenty  dollars  a  week  to  any  one.  But  just 
the  same  I'm  going  to  have  my  million  and  my  auto 
mobile  in  five  years.  Dine  with  me  five  years  from 
this  date  and  you'll  see." 


26  MAKING  MONEY 

"Well,  Fred,  what's  the  secret?  How  are  you 
going  to  do  it  ?  "  said  Bojo,  a  little  suspicious  of  his 
seriousness. 

But  DeLancy  as  though  still  aware  of  the  neces 
sity  of  further  explanations  before  his  pronounce 
ment  continued : 

"  I  said  I  didn't  fool  myself  and  I  don't.  I  haven't 
got  ability  like  Granning  over  here,  who's  entirely 
too  modest  and  who'll  end  by  being  an  old  money 
bags —  see  if  he  doesn't.  I  haven't  got  a  bunch  of 
greenbacks  left  me  or  behind  me  like  Roscy  or  Bojo. 
My  old  dad's  a  brick ;  he's  scraped  and  pinched  to  put 
me  through  college  on  the  basis  of  you  fellows. 
Now  it's  up  to  me.  I  haven't  got  what  you  fellows 
have  got,  but  I've  got  some  very  valuable  qualities, 
very  valuable  when  you  keep  in  mind  what  you  can 
do  with  them.  I  have  a  very  fine  pair  of  dancing 
legs,  I  play  a  good  game  of  bridge  and  a  better  at 
poker,  I  can  ride  other  men's  horses  and  drive  their 
automobiles  in  first-rate  style,  I  wear  better  clothes 
than  my  host  with  all  his  wad,  and  you  bet  that  im 
presses  him.  I  know  how  to  gather  in  friends  as 
fast  as  you  can  drum  up  circulation,  I  can  liven  up 
any  party  and  save  any  dinner  from  going  on  the 
rocks,  I  can  amuse  a  bunch  of  old  bores  until  they 
get  to  liking  themselves;  in  a  word,  I  know  how  to 
make  myself  indispensable  in  society  and  the  society 
that  counts." 

"  What  the  deuce  is  he  driving  at?  "  Marsh  broke 
in  with  a  puzzled  expression. 

"  Why  am  I  sitting  down  in  a  broker's  office  draw 
ing  fifty  dollars  a  week,  just  to  smoke  long  black 


FOUR  AMBITIONS  27 

cigars?  Because  I  know  a  rap  what's  going  on? 
No.  Because  I  know  people,  because  I'm.  a  cute 
little  social  runner  who  brings  custom  into  the  office; 
because  my  capital  is  friends  and  I  capitalize  my 
friends." 

"  Oh,  come  now,  Fred,  that's  rather  hard,"  said 
Bo  jo,  feeling  the  note  of  bitterness  in  this  cynical 
self-estimate. 

"It's  the  truth.  What  do  you  think  that  old 
fraud  of  a  Runker,  my  boss,  said  to  me  last  week 
when  I  dropped  in  an  hour  late  ?  '  Young  man,  what 
do  you  come  to  the  office  for —  for  afternoon  tea? ' 
And  what  did  I  answer  ?  I  said :  '  Boss,  you  know 
what  you've  got  me  here  for,  and  do  you  want  me 
to  tell  you  what  you  ought  to  say?  You  ought  to 
say,  "  Mr.  DeLancy,  you've  been  working  very  hard 
in  our  interest  these  nights  and  though  we  can't  give 
you  an  expense  account,  you  must  be  more  careful 
of  your  health.  I  don't  want  to  see  you  burning 
the  candle  at  both  ends.  Sleep  late  of  mornings." 

"And  what  did  he  say,  the  old  humbug?  He 
burst  out  laughing  and  raised  my  salary.  He  knew 
I  was  wise." 

"  Well,  what's  the  point  of  all  this  ?  "  said  Gran- 
ning  after  the  laugh.  "  Never  heard  you  take  so 
long  coming  to  the  point  before." 

"  The  point  is  this :  there're  three  ways  of  making 
money  and  only  three :  to  have  it  left  you  like  Roscy, 
to  earn  it  like  Granning,  and  to  marry  it — " 

"Like  you!" 

"Like  me!" 

The  others  looked  at  him  with  constraint,  for  at 


28  MAKING  MONEY 

that  period  there  was  still  a  prejudice  against  an 
American  man  who  made  a  marriage  of  calculation. 
Finally  Granning  said: 

"  You  won't  do  that,  Freddie !  " 

"  Indeed  I  will,"  said  DeLancy,  but  with  a  nerv 
ous  acceleration.  "  My  career  is  society.  Oh,  I 
don't  say  I'm  going  to  marry  for  money  and  nothing 
else.  It's  much  easier  than  that.  Besides,  there's 
the  patriotic  motive,  you  know.  I'm  saving  an 
American  fortune  for  American  uses,  American 
heiresses  for  American  men.  Sounds  like  American 
styles  for  American  women,"  he  added,  trying  to 
take  the  edge  off  the  declaration  with  a  laugh. 
"After  all,  there's  a  lot  of  buncombe  about  it.  A 
broken-down  foreigner  comes  over  here  with  a  repu 
tation  like  a  Sing-Sing  favorite,  and  because  he  calls 
himself  Duke  he's  going  to  marry  the  daughter  of 
Dan  Drake  to  pay  up  his  debts  and  the  Lord  knows 
for  what  purposes  in  the  future  —  and  do  you  fel 
lows  turn  your  back  on  him  and  raise  your  eyebrows 
as  you  did  a  moment  ago?  Not  at  all.  You're 
tickled  to  death  to  go  uj3  and  cling  to  his  ducal  finger. 
Am  I  right,  Roscy  ?  " 

"Yes,  but—"' 

"  But  I'm  an  American  and  will  make  a  damned 
sight  better  husband,  and  American  children  will  in 
herit  the  money  instead  of  its  being  swallowed  up 
by  a  rotten  aristocracy.  There's  the  answer." 

"  It's  the  way  you  say  it,  Fred,"  said  Bojo  un 
easily. 

"  Because  I  have  the  nerve  to  say  it.  This  is  all 
I'm  worth  and  this  is  the  only  way  to  get  what  we 
all  want." 


FOUR  AMBITIONS  29 

"  You'll  never  do  it,"  said  Granning  with  decision ; 
"  not  in  the  way  you  say  it." 

"  Granning,  you're  a  babe  in  the  woods.  You 
don't  know  what  life  is,"  said  DeLancy,  laughing 
boisterously.  "  After  all,  what  are  you  going  to 
do?  You're  going  to  put  away  the  finest  days  of 
your  life  to  come  out  with  a  pile  when  you're  middle- 
aged  and  then  what  good  will  it  do  you?  I  knew 
I'd  shock  you.  Still  there  it  is  —  that's  flat !  "  He 
drew  back,  lighting  a  cigar  to  cover  his  retreat  and 
said :  "  Bojo  next.  I  dare  you  to  be  as  frank." 

Bojo,  thus  interrogated,  took  refuge  in  an  evasive 
answer.  The  revelations  he  had  listened  to  gave 
him  a  keen  sense  of  change.  On  this  very  evening 
when  they  had  come  together  for  the  purpose  of  cel 
ebrating  old  friendship,  it  seemed  to  him  that  the 
parting  of  their  ways  lay  clearly  before  him. 

"  I  don't  know  what  I  shall  do,"  he  said  at  last. 
"  No,  I'm  not  dodging ;  I  don't  know.  Much  de 
pends  on  certain  circumstances."  He  could  not  say 
how  vividly  their  different  announced  paths  repre 
sented  to  him  the  difficulties  of  his  choice.  "  I'd  like 
to  do  something  more  than  just  make  money,  and  yet 
that  seems  the  most  natural  thing,  I  suppose.  Well, 
I'd  like  a  chance  to  have  a  year  or  two  to  think  things 
over,  see  all  kinds  of  men  and  activities  —  but  I  don't 
know,  by  next  week  I  may  be  at  the  bottom  —  strik 
ing  out  for  myself  and  glad  of  a  chance." 

He  stopped  and  they  did  not  urge  him  to  continue. 
After  DeLancy's  flat  exposition  each  had  a  feeling 
of  the  danger  of  disillusionment.  Besides,  Fred  and 
Roscoe  were  impatient  to  be  off,  Fred  to  a  roof  gar 
den,  Marsh  to  the  newspaper.  Bojo  declined  De- 


30  MAKING  MONEY 

Lancy's  invitation,  alleged  the  necessity  of  un 
packing,  in  reality  rather  desirous  of  being  alone  or 
of  a  quieter  talk  with  Granning  in  the  new  home. 

"  Here's  to  us,  then,"  said  Marsh,  raising  his 
glass.  "  Whatever  happens  the  old  combination 
sticks  together." 

Bojo  raised  his  glass  thoughtfully,  feeling  under 
neath  that  there  was  something  irrevocably  changed. 
The  city  was  outside  sparkling  and  black,  but  there 
was  a  new  feeling  in  the  night  below,  and  the  more 
he  felt  the  multiplicity  of  its  multifold  expressions 
the  more  it  came  to  him  that  what  he  would  do  he 
would  do  alone. 


CHAPTER  III 

ON   THE  TAIL  OF  A   TERRIER 

WHEN  he  returned  with  Granning  into  the  court 
and   upstairs    to    their   quarters    a   telegram 
greeted  him  from  the  floor  as  he  opened  the  door. 
It  was  from  his  father,  brief  and  businesslike. 

Arrive  to-morrow.    Wish  to  see  you  at  three  at  office. 
Important. 

J.  B.  CROCKER. 

He  stood  by  the  fireplace  tearing  it  slowly  to  pieces, 
feeling  the  approach  of  reality  in  his  existence,  a  lit 
tle  frightened  at  its  imminence. 

"  Not  bad  news,"  said  Granning,  settling  his  great 
bulk  on  the  couch  and  reaching  for  a  pipe  from  the 
rack.  But  at  this  instant  a  smiling  Japanese  valet 
ushered  in  the  trunks. 

"  This  is  Sweeney,"  said  Granning  with  an  intro 
ductory  wave.  "  He's  one  of  four.  We  gave  up 
trying  to  remember  their  names,  so  Fred  rechris- 
tened  them.  The  others  are  Patsy,  O'Rourke,  and 
Houlahan.  Sweeney  speaks  perfect  English;  if  you 
ask  him  for  a  telephone  book  he'll  rush  out  and  bring 
you  a  taxicab.  Understand,  eh,  Sweeney  ?  " 

"  Velly  well,  yes,  sir,"  said  Sweeney,  smiling  a 
pleased  smile. 

"How  the  deuce  do  you  work  it  then?"  said 
Bo  jo,  prying  open  his  trunk. 

31 


32  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Oh,  it's  quite  simple.  Fred  discovered  the  com 
bination.  All  you  have  to  remember  is  that  no  mat 
ter  what  you  ask  for  Sweeney  always  gets  a  taxi, 
Patsy  brings  in  the  breakfast,  Houlahan  starts  for 
the  tailor,  and  O'Rourke  produces  the  scrubwoman. 
Just  remember  that  and  you'll  have  no  trouble.  But 
for  the  Lord's  sake  don't  get  'em  mixed  up."  He 
broke  off.  "  What's  the  matter  ?  You  look  serious." 

"  I'm  wondering  how  I'll  feel  this  time  to-mor 
row,"  said  Bojo  with  his  arms  full  of  shirts  and  neck 
ties.  "  I've  got  a  pleasant  little  interview  with  the 
Governor  ahead."  He  filled  a  drawer  of  the  bureau 
and  returned  into  the  sitting-room,  and  as  Granning, 
with  his  usual  discretion,  ventured  no  question  he 
added,  looking  out  at  the  court  where  three  blazing 
windows  of  the  restaurant  were  flinging  pools  of 
light  across  the  dark  green  plots :  "  He'll  want  me 
to  chuck  all  this, —  shoot  up  to  a  hole  in  the  mud; 
bury  myself  in  a  mill  town  for  four  or  five  years. 
Pleasant  prospect." 

It  did  seem  a  bleak  prospect,  indeed,  standing 
there  in  the  commodious  bay  window,  seeing  the 
flooded  sky,  hearing  all  the  distant  mingled  songs 
of  the  city.  From  the  near-by  wall  the  orchestra 
of  the  theater  sent  the  gay  beats  of  a  musical  comedy 
march  feebly  out  through  open  windows,  while  from 
the  adjoining  wall  of  the  Times  Annex,  beyond  the 
brilliant  busy  windows,  the  linotype  machines  were 
clicking  out  the  news  of  the  world  that  came  throb 
bing  in.  The  theater,  the  press,  that  world  of  im 
agination  and  hourly  sensation,  the  half-opened  res 
taurant  with  glimpses  of  gay  tables  and  the  begin 
nings  of  the  nightly  cabaret,  the  blazing  court  itself 


ON  THE  TAIL  OF  A  TERRIER          33 

filled  with  ardent  young  men  at  the  happy  period  of 
the  first  great  ventures,  all  were  brought  so  close  to 
his  own  eager  curiosity  that  he  turned  back  re- 
belliously : 

"  By  heavens,  I  won't  do  it,  whatever  happens ! 
I  won't  be  starved  out  for  the  sake  of  more  dollars. 
Well,  would  you  in  my  place  —  now  ?  " 

He  took  a  pair  of  shoes  and  flung  them  scudding 
across  the  floor  into  the  room  and  then  stood  look 
ing  down  at  the  non-committal  figure  of  his  friend. 

"  Granning,  you  don't  approve  of  us,  do  you? 
Stop  looking  like  a  sphinx.  Answer  or  I'll  dump 
the  tray  over  you.  You  don't  approve,  do  you  ?  Be 
sides,  I  watched  your  face  to-night  when  Fred  was 
spouting  all  that  ridiculous  stuff." 

"  He  meant  it." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  He  sat  down  thoughtfully. 
"  I  wonder." 

"  What  worried  you  ?  "  said  Granning  directly, 
with  a  sharp  look. 

"  I  was  sort  of  upset,"  Bojo  admitted.  "  You 
know  when  you  got  through  and  Fred  got  through, 
I  thought  after  all  you  were  right  —  we  are  gamblers. 
We  want  things  quick  and  easily.  It's  the  excite 
ment,  the  living  on  a  high  tension." 

"  I  always  sort  of  figured  out  you'd  want  to  do 
something  different,"  said  Granning  slowly. 

"  So  I  would,"  he  said  moodily.  "  I  wish  I  had 
Roscy's  brains.  I  wonder  what  I  could  do  if  I  had 
to  shift  for  myself." 

"  So  that's  the  idea,  is  it  ?  " 

He  nodded. 

"  The  old  Dad's  stubborn  as  blazes.     Had  an  up- 


34.  MAKING  MONEY 

and-down  row  with  Jack,  my  older  brother,  and 
turned  him  out.  Lord  knows  what's  become  of  him. 
Dad's  got  as  much  love  for  the  Wall  Street  game  as 
your  pesky  old  self.  Thinks  they're  a  lot  of  loafers 
and  confidence  men." 

"  I  didn't  say  it,"  said  Granning  with  a  short  laugh. 

"  No,  but  you  think  it." 

Granning  rose  as  the  clock  struck  ten  and  shoul 
dered  off  to  his  bedroom  according  to  his  invariable 
custom.  When  Bo  jo  finally  turned  in  it  was  to  sleep 
by  fits  and  starts.  The  weight  of  the  decision  which 
he  would  have  to  make  on  the  morrow  oppressed 
him.  It  was  all  very  well  to  announce  that  he  would 
start  at  the  bottom  rather  than  yield,  but  the  world 
had  opened  up  to  him  in  a  different  light  since  the 
dinner  of  confidences.  He  saw  the  two  ways  clearly 
—  the  long,  slow  plodding  way  of  Granning,  and 
the  other  way,  the  world  of  opportunities  through 
friends,  the  world  of  quick  results  to  those  privi 
leged  to  be  behind  the  scenes.  If  the  end  were  the 
same,  why  take  the  way  of  toil  and  deprivation?  Be 
sides,  there  were  other  reasons,  sentimental  reasons, 
that  urged  him  to  the  easier  choice.  If  he  could  only 
make  his  father  see  things  rationally  —  but  he  had 
slight  hope  of  making  an  impression  upon  that  direct 
and  adamant  will. 

"  Well,  if  everything  goes  smash,  I'll  make  Roscy 
give  me  a  job  on  the  paper,"  he  thought  as  he  turned 
restlessly  in  his  bed. 

The  white  gleam  of  a  shifting  electric  sign,  high 
above  the  roofs,  played  over  the  opposite  wall.  At 
midnight  he  heard  dimly  two  sounds  which  were 
destined  from  now  on  to  dispute  the  turning  of  the 


ON  THE  TAIL  OF  A  TERRIER          35 

night  with  their  contending  notes  of  work  and  pleas 
ure —  the  sound  of  great  presses  beginning  to 
rumble  under  the  morning  edition  and  from  the  res 
taurant  an  inconscient  chorus  welcoming  the  mid 
night  with  jingling  rhythm. 

You  want  to  cry, 

You  want  to  die, 

But  all  you  do  is  laugh,  Hi !  Hi ! 

You've  got  the  High  Jinks!    That's  why! 

When  he  awoke  the  next  morning  it  was  to  the 
sound  of  Roscoe  Marsh  in  the  adjoining  sitting- 
room  telephoning  for  breakfast.  The  sun  was  pour 
ing  over  his  coverlet  and  the  clock  stood  reproach 
fully  at  nine  o'clock.  He  slipped  into  a  dressing- 
gown  and  found  Marsh  yawning  over  the  papers. 
Granning  had  departed  at  seven  o'clock  to  the  works 
on  the  Jersey  shore.  DeLancy  presenf.y  staggered 
out,  tousled  and  sleepy,  resplendent  in  a  blazing  red 
satin  dressing-gown,  announcing: 

"  Lord,  but  this  brokerage  business  is  exacting 
work." 

"Late  party,  eh?"  said  Bojo,  laughing. 

"  Where  the  devil  is  the  coffee  ?  "  said  DeLancy 
for  all  answer. 

Marsh,  too,  had  been  of  the  party  after  the  night 
work  had  been  completed,  though  he  showed 
scarcely  a  trace  of  the  double  strain.  Breakfast  over, 
Bojo  finished  unpacking,  killing  time  until  noon  ar 
rived,  when,  after  a  solicitous  selection  of  shirts  and 
neckties,  he  went  off  by  appointment  to  meet  Miss 
Doris  Drake. 

To-day  the  thoughts  of  that  other  interview  with 


36  MAKING  MONEY 

his  father  were  too  present  in  his  imagination  to  per 
mit  of  the  usual  zest  such  a  meeting  usually  drew 
forth.  The  attachment,  for  despite  the  insinuations 
of  DeLancy  and  Marsh  it  was  hardly  more  than  that, 
had  been  of  long  standing.  There  had  been  a  period 
toward  the  end  of  boarding-school  when  he  had  been 
tremendously  in  love  and  had  corresponded  with  ex 
traordinary  faithfulness  and  treasured  numerous 
tokens  of  feminine  reciprocation  with  a  sentimental 
devotion.  The  infatuation  had  cooled,  but  the  de 
votion  had  remained  as  a  necessary  romantic  outlet. 
She  had  been  his  guest  as  a  matter  of  course  at  all 
the  numerous  gala  occasions  of  college  life,  at  the 
football  match,  the  New  London  race,  and  the  Prom. 
He  was  tremendously  proud  to  have  her  on  his  arm, 
so  proud  that  at  times  he  temporarily  felt  a  return 
of  that  bitter-sweet  frenzy  when  at  school  he  turned 
hot  and  cold  with  the  expectancy  of  her  letters.  At 
the  bottom  he  was  perhaps  playing  at  love,  a  little 
afraid  of  her  with  that  spirit  of  cautious  delibera 
tion  which,  had  he  but  known  it,  abides  not  with  ro 
mance. 

During  the  month  on  the  ranch  he  had  spent  in 
their  house-party,  he  had  a  hundred  times  tried  to 
convince  himself  that  the  old  ardor  was  there,  and 
when  somehow  in  his  own  honesty  he  failed,  he 
would  often  wonder  what  was  the  subtle  reason  that 
prevented  it.  She  was  everything  that  the  eye  could 
imagine,  brilliant,  perhaps  a  little  too  much  so  for 
a  young  lady  of  twenty,  and  sought  after  by  a  score 
of  men  to  whom  she  remained  completely  indifferent. 
He  was  flattered  and  yet  he  remained  uneasy,  forced 
to  admit  to  himself  that  there  was  something  lack- 


ON  THE  TAIL  OF  A  TERRIER  37 

ing  in  her  to  stir  his  pulses  as  they  had  once  been 
stirred.  When  DeLancy  had  so  frankly  announced 
his  intention  of  making  a  favorable  marriage,  some 
thing  had  uneasily  stirred  his  conscience.  Was  there 
after  all  some  such  unconscious  instinct  in  him  at  the 
bottom  of  this  continued  intimacy? 

When  he  reached  the  metropolitan  castle  of  the 
Drakes  on  upper  Fifth  Avenue,  he  found  the  salons 
still  covered  up  in  summer  trappings,  long  yellow 
linens  over  the  furniture,  the  paintings  on  the  walls 
still  wrapped  in  cheesecloth.  As  he  was  twirling  his 
cane  aimlessly  before  the  fireplace,  wondering  how 
long  it  would  please  Miss  Doris  to  keep  him  waiting, 
there  came  a  breathless  scamper  and  rush,  accom 
panied  by  delighted  giggles,  and  the  next  moment 
an  Irish  terrier,  growling  and  snarling  in  mock  fury, 
slid  over  the  polished  floor,  pursued  by  a  young  girl 
who  had  a  firm  grip  on  the  stubby  tail.  The  chase 
ended  in  the  center  of  the  room  with  a  sudden  tum 
ble.  The  dog,  liberated,  stood  quivering  with  de 
light  at  a  safe  distance,  head  on  one  side,  tongue  out, 
ready  for  the  next  move  of  his  tormenter  who  was 
camped  in  the  middle  of  the  floor.  But  at  this  mo 
ment  she  perceived  Bo  jo. 

"  Oh,  hello,"  she  said  with  a  start  of  surprise  but 
no  confusion.  "  Who  are  you?  " 

"I'm  Crocker,  Tom  Crocker,"  he  said,  laughing 
back  at  the  flushed  oval  face,  with  mischievous  eyes 
dancing  somewhere  in  the  golden  hair  that  tumbled 
in  shocks  to  her  shoulder. 

She  sprang  up  brightly,  advancing  with  out 
stretched  hand. 

"  Oh,  you're  Bojo,"  she  said  in  correction.     "  You 


38  MAKING  MONEY 

don't  know  me.  I'm  Patsie,  the  terror  of  the  fam 
ily.  Now  don't  say  you  thought  I  was  a  child,  I'm 
seventeen  —  going  on  eighteen  in  January." 

He  shook  the  hand  that  was  thrust  out  to  him  in 
a  direct  boyish  grip,  surprised  and  a  little  bewildered 
at  the  irresistible  youth  and  spirits  of  the  young  lady 
who  stood  so  naturally  before  him  in  short  skirt  and 
in  simple  shirtwaist  open  at  the  tanned  neck. 

"  Of  course  they've  told  you  I'm  a  terror,"  she 
said  defiantly.  He  nodded,  which  seemed  to  please 
her,  for  she  rattled  on :  "  Well,  I  am.  They  had  to 
keep  me  away  until  Dolly  hooked  the  Duke.  Have 
you  seen  him?  Well,  if  that's  a  duke  all  I've  got  to 
say  is  I  think  he's  a  muff.  Of  course  you're  waiting 
for  Doris,  aren't  you?  " 

The  assumption  of  his  vassalage  somehow  stirred 
a  little  antagonism,  but  before  he  could  answer  she 
was  off  again. 

"  Well,  a  jolly  long  wait  you'll  have,  too.  Doris 
is  splashing  around  among  the  rouge  and  powder 
like  Romp  in  a  puddle." 

Her  own  cheeks  needed  no  such  encouragement, 
he  thought,  laughing  back  at  her  through  the  pure 
infection  of  her  high  spirits. 

"  I  like  you ;  you're  all  right,"  she  said,  surveying 
him  with  her  head  on  one  side  like  Romp,  the  ter 
rier,  who  came  sniffing  up  to  him  in  the  friendliest 
way.  "  You're  not  like  a  lot  of  these  fashion  plates 
that  come  in  on  tiptoes.  Say,  that  was  a  bully  tackle 
you  made  in  that  Harvard  game." 

He  was  down  on  one  knee  rubbing  the  shaggy  coat 
of  the  terrier.  He  looked  up. 

"  Oh,  you  saw  that,  did  you  ?  " 


ON  THE  TAIL  OF  A  TERRIER  39 

"Yep!  I  guess  there  wasn't  much  left  of  that 
fellow !  Dad  said  that  was  the  finest  tackle  he  ever 
saw." 

"  It  shook  me  up  all  right,"  he  said,  grinning. 

"  Well,  if  Dad  likes  you  and  Romp  likes  you,  you 
must  be  some  account,"  she  continued,  camping  on 
the  rug  and  seizing  triumphantly  the  stubby  tail. 
"  Dad's  strong  for  you!  " 

Bojo  settled  on  the  edge  of  the  sofa,  watching  the 
furious  encounter  which  took  place  for  the  posses 
sion  of  the  strategic  point. 

"  I  suppose  you're  going  to  marry  Doris,"  she  said 
in  a  moment  of  calm,  while  Romp  made  good  his 
escape. 

Bojo  felt  himself  flushing  under  the  direct  child 
like  gaze. 

"  I  should  be  very  flattered  if  Doris  — " 

"  Oh,  don't  talk  that  way,"  she  said  with  a  fling 
of  her  shoulders.  "  That's  like  all  the  others.  Tell 
me,  are  all  New  York  men  such  hopeless  ninnies? 
Lord,  I'm  going  to  have  a  dreary  time  of  it."  She 
looked  at  him  critically.  "  One  thing  I  like  about 
you;  you  don't  wear  spats." 

"  I  suppose  you're  home  for  the  wedding,"  he 
asked  curiously,  "  or  are  you  through  with  the  board 
ing-school?  " 

"Didn't  you  hear  about  this?"  she  said  with  a 
touch  to  her  shortened  hair.  "  They  wanted  me  to 
come  out  and  I  said  I  wouldn't  come  out.  And 
when  they  said  I  should  come  out,  I  said  to  myself, 
I'll  just  fix  them  so  I  can't  come  out,  and  I  hacked 
off  all  my  hair.  That's  why  they  sent  me  off  to 
Coventry  for  the  summer.  I'd  have  hacked  it  off 


40  MAKING  MONEY 

again,  but  Dad  cut  up  so  I  let  it  grow,  and  now  the 
plaguey  old  fashion  has  gotten  around  to  bobbed 
hair.  What  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

"  So  you  don't  want  to  come  out  ?  "  he  answered. 

"What  for?  To  be  nice  to  a  lot  of  old  frumps 
you  don't  like,  to  dress  up  and  drink  tea  and  lean  up 
against  a  wall  and  have  a  crowd  of  mechanical  toys 
tell  you  that  your  eyes  are  like  evening  stars  and  all 
that  rot.  I  should  say  not" 

"Well,  what  would  you  like  to  do?" 

"  I'd  like  to  go  riding  and  hunting  with  Dad,  live 
in  a  great  country  house,  with  lots  of  snow  in  win 
ter  and  tobogganing — "  She  broke  off  with  a  sud 
den  suspicion.  "  Say,  am  I  boring  you  ?  " 

"  You  are  not,"  he  said  with  emphasis. 

"  You  don't  like  that  society  flub-dub  either,  do 
you?"  she  continued  confidentially.  "Lord,  these 
dolled  up  women  make  me  tired.  I'd  like  to  jounce 
them  ten  miles  over  the  hills.  Say,  you're  a  judge 
of  muscle,  aren't  you?  " 

"  In  a  way," 

"What  do  you  think  of  that?"  She  held  out  a 
cool  firm  forearm  for  his  inspection  and  he  was  in  this 
intimate  position  when  Doris  came  down  the  great 
stairway,  with  her  willowy,  trailing  elegance.  She 
gave  a  quick  glance  of  her  dark  eyes  at  the  uncon 
ventional  group,  with  Romp  in  the  middle  an  inter 
ested  spectator,  and  said : 

"  Have  I  been  keeping  you  hours  ?  I  hope  this 
child's  been  amusing  you." 

The  child,  being  at  this  moment  perfectly  screened, 
retorted  by  a  roguish  wink  which  almost  upset  Bojo's 


"'Say,  you're  a  judge  of  muscle,  aren't  you?'" — Page  40 


ON  THE  TAIL  OF  A  TERRIER  41 

equanimity.  The  two  sisters  were  an  absolute  con 
trast.  In  her  two  seasons  Doris  had  been  converted 
into  a  complete  woman  of  the  world;  she  had  the 
grace. that  was  the  grace  of  art,  yet  undeniably  effec 
tive;  stunning  was  the  term  applied  to  her.  Her 
features  were  delicate,  thinly  turned,  and  a  quality 
of  precious  fragility  was  about  her  whole  person, 
even  to  the  conscious  moods  of  her  smile,  her  enthusi 
asm,  her  serious  poising  for  an  instant  of  the  eyes, 
which  were  deep  and  black  and  lustrous  as  the  art 
fully  pleasing  masses  of  her  hair.  But  the  charm 
that  was  gone  was  the  charm  that  looked  up  at  him 
from  the  unconscious  twilight  eyes  of  the  younger 
sister ! 

"  Patsie,  you  terrible  tomboy  —  will  you  ever  grow 
up !  "  she  said  reprovingly.  "  Look  at  your  dress 
and  your  hair.  I  never  saw  such  a  little  rowdy. 
Now  run  along  like  a  dear.  Mother's  waiting." 

But  Patsie  maliciously  declined  to  hurry.  She  in 
sisted  that  she  had  promised  to  show  off  Romp  and, 
abetted  by  Bo  jo  in  this  deception,  she  kept  her  sister 
waiting  while  she  put  the  dog  through  his  tricks  and 
—  to  cap  the  climax  went  off  with  a  bombshell. 

"  My,  you  two  don't  look  a  bit  glad  to  see  each 
other  —  you  look  as  conventional  as  Dolly  and  the 
Duke." 

"  Heavens,"  said  Doris  with  a  sigh,  "  I  shall  have 
my  hands  full  this  winter.  What  they'll  think  of  her 
in  society  the  Lord  knows." 

"  I  wouldn't  worry  about  her,"  said  Bojo  pensively. 
"  I  don't  think  she's  going  to  have  as  much  trouble 
as  you  fear." 


42  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Oh,  you  think  so  ? "  said  Doris,  glancing  up. 
Then  she  laid  her  hand  over  his  with  a  little  pres 
sure.  "  I'm  awfully  glad  to  see  you,  Bojo." 

"  I'm  awfully  glad  to  see  you,"  he  returned  with 
accented  enthusiasm. 

"Just  as  glad  as  ever?" 

"  Of  course." 

"  We  shall  have  to  use  the  Mercedes ;  Dolly's  off 
with  the  Reynier.  You  don't  mind?"  she  said,  flit 
ting  past  the  military  footman.  "  Where  are  we 
lunching?  " 

He  named  a  fashionable  restaurant. 

"  Oh,  dear,  no ;  you  never  see  any  one  you  know 
there.  Let's  go  to  the  Ritz."  And  without  wait 
ing  for  his  answer  she  added :  "  Duncan,  the  Ritz." 

At  the  restaurant  all  the  personelle  seemed  to 
know  her.  The  head  waiter  himself  showed  her  to  a 
favorite  corner,  and  advised  with  her  solicitously  as 
to  the  selection  of  the  menu,  while  Bojo,  who  had 
still  to  eat  ten  thousand  such  luncheons,  furtively 
compared  his  elegant  companion  with  the  brilliant 
women  who  were  grouped  about  him  like  rare  hot 
house  plants  in  a  perfumed  conservatory.  The  little 
shell  hat  she  wore  suited  her  admirably,  concealing 
her  forehead  and  half  of  her  eyes  with  the  same  pro 
voking  mystery  that  the  eastern  veil  lends  to  the 
women  of  the  Orient.  Everything  about  her  dress 
was  soft  and  beguilingly  luxurious.  All  at  once  she 
turned  from  a  fluttered  welcome  to  a  distant  group 
and,  assuming  a  serious  air,  said: 

"Have  you  seen  Dad  yet?  Oh,  of  course  not  — 
you  haven't  had  time.  You  must  right  away.  He's 
taken  a  real  fancy  to  you,  and  he's  promised  me  to 


ON  THE  TAIL  OF  A  TERRIER  43 

see  that  you  make  a  lot  of  money  — "  she  looked  up 
in  his  eyes  and  then  down  at  the  table  with  a  shy 
smile,  adding  emphatically  — "  soon !  " 

"  So  you've  made  up  your  mind  to  that?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed.     I'm  going  to  make  you !  " 

She  nodded,  laughing  and  favoring  him  with  a 
long  contemplation. 

"  You  dress  awfully  well,"  she  said  approvingly. 
"  Clothes  seem  to  hang  on  you  just  right  — " 

"  But  — "  he  said,  laughing. 

"  Well,  there  are  one  or  two  things  I'd  like  you 
to  do,"  she  admitted,  a  little  confused.  "  I  wish 
you'd  wear  a  mustache,  just  a  little  one  like  the  Duke. 
You'd  look  stunning." 

He  laughed  in  a  way  that  disconcerted  her,  and 
an  impulse  came  into  his  mind  to  try  her,  for  he  be 
gan  to  resent  the  assumption  of  possession  which  she 
had  assumed. 

"  How  do  you  think  that  would  go  in  a  mill  town 
with  overalls  and  a  lunch  can  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  In  a  week  I  expect  to  be  shipped  to  New  Eng 
land,  to  a  little  town,  with  ten  thousand  inhabitants; 
nice,  cheery  place  with  two  moving-picture  houses 
and  rows  on  rows  of  factory  homes  for  society." 

"  For  how  long?  " 

"  For  four  or  five  years." 

"  Bojo,  how  horrible !     You're  not  serious !  " 

"  I  may  be.  How  would  you  like  to  keep  house 
up  there  ?  "  He  caught  at  the  disconsolate  look  in 
her  face  and  added :  "  Don't  worry,  I  know  better 
than  to  ask  that  of  you.  Now  listen,  Doris,  we've 
been  good  chums  too  long  to  fool  ourselves.  You've 


44  MAKING  MONEY 

changed  and  you're  going  to  change  a  lot  more.  Do 
you  really  like  this  sort  of  life?" 

"I  adore  it!" 

"  Dressing  up,  parading  yourself,  tearing  around 
from  one  function  to  another."  She  nodded,  her 
face  suddenly  clouded  over.  "  Then  why  in  the 
world  do  you  want  me?  There  are  fifty  —  a  hun 
dred  men  you'll  find  will  play  this  game  better  than 
I  can." 

He  had  dropped  his  tone  of  sarcasm  and  was  look 
ing  at  her  earnestly,  but  the  questions  he  put  were 
put  to  his  own  conscience. 

"  Why  do  you  act  this  way  just  when  you've  come 
back?"  she  said,  frightened  at  his  sudden  ascen 
dency. 

"  Because  I  sometimes  think  that  we  both  know 
that  nothing  is  going  to  happen,"  he  said  directly; 
"  only  it's  hard  to  face  the  truth.  Isn't  that  it  ?  " 

"  No,  that  isn't  it.  I  love  to  be  admired,  I  love 
pretty  things  and  society  and  all  that.  Why  shouldn't 
I?  But  I  do  care  for  you,  Bojo;  you've  always 
brought  out  — "  she  was  going  to  say,  "  the  best  in 
me,"  but  changed  her  mind  and  instead  added :  "  I 
am  very  proud  of  you  —  I  always  would  be.  Don't 
look  at  me  like  that.  What  have  I  done  ?  " 

"  Nothing,"  he  said,  drawing  a  breath.  "  You 
can't  help  being  what  you  are.  Really,  Doris,  in 
the  whole  room  you're  the  loveliest  here.  No  one 
has  your  style  or  a  smile  as  bewitching  as  yours. 
There  is  a  fascination  about  you." 

She  was  only  half  reassured. 

"Well,  then,  don't  talk  so  idiotically." 

"  Idiotic  is  exactly  the  word,"  he  said  with  a  laugh, 


ON  THE  TAIL  OF  A  TERRIER  45 

and  the  compliments  he  had  paid  her  in  a  spirit  of 
self-raillery  awakened  a  little  feeling  of  tenderness 
after  his  teasing  had  shown  him  that,  according  to 
her  lights,  she  cared  more  than  he  had  thought. 

All  the  same  when  he  rose  to  hurry  downtown,  he 
was  under  no  illusions :  if  opportunity  permitted  him 
to  fit  into  the  social  scheme  of  things,  well  and  good ; 
if  not —  His  thoughts  recurred  to  Fred  DeLancy's 
words : 

"  There  are  three  ways  of  making  money :  to  have 
it  left  to  you,  to  earn  it,  and  to  marry  it." 

He  broke  off  angrily,  troubled  with  doubts,  and 
for  the  hundredth  time  he  found  himself  asking: 

"  Now  why  the  deuce  can't  I  be  mad  in  love  with 
a  girl  who  cares  for  me,  who's  a  beauty  and  has 
everything  in  the  world!  What  is  it?" 

For  he  had  once  been  very  much  in  love  when  he 
was  a  schoolboy  and  Doris  had  been  just  a  school 
girl,  with  open  eyes  and  impulsive  direct  ways,  like 
a  certain  young  lady,  with  breathless,  laughing  lips 
who  had  come  sliding  into  his  life  on  the  comical  tail 
of  a  scampering  terrier. 


CHAPTER  IV 

BOJO'S   FATHER 

r"PHE  offices  of  the  Associated  Woolen  Mills  were 
1  on  the  sixteenth  floor  of  a  modern  office  build 
ing  in  the  lower  city,  which  towered  above  the  sur 
rounding  squalid  brownstone  houses  given  over  to 
pedlers  and  delicatessen  shops  like  a  gleaming  stork 
ankle  deep  in  a  pool  of  murky  water. 

Bojo  wandered  through  long  mathematical  rooms 
with  mathematical  young  men  perched  high  on  desk 
stools  all  with  the  same  mathematical  curve  of  the 
back,  past  squadrons  of  clicking  typewriters,  clicking 
endlessly  as  though  each  human  unit  had  been  surren 
dered  into  the  cogs  of  a  universal  machine.  He  passed 
one  by  one  a  row  of  glassed-in  rooms  with  names 
of  minor  officers  displayed,  marking  them  solemnly 
as  though  already  he  saw  the  long  slow  future  ahead : 
Mr.  Pelton,  treasurer;  Mr.  Spinny,  general  secretary; 
Mr.  Colton,  second  vice-president;  Mr.  Horton,  vice- 
president;  Mr.  Rhoemer,  general  manager,  until  he 
arrived  at  the  outer  waiting-room  with  its  faded  red 
leather  sofas  and  polished  brass  spittoons,  where  he 
had  come  first  as  a  boy  in  need  of  money. 

Richardson,  an  old  young  man,  who  walked  as 
though  he  had  never  been  in  a  hurry  and  spoke  in  a 
whisper,  showed  him  into  the  inner  office  of  Jotham 
B.  Crocker,  explaining  that  his  father  would  return 
presently.  Everything  was  in  order ;  chairs  precisely 

46 


BOJO'S  FATHER  47 

placed,  the  window  shades  at  the  same  level,  book 
cases  with  filed  memoranda,  even  to  the  desk,  where 
letters  to  be  read  and  letters  to  be  signed  were  ar 
ranged  in  neat  packages  side  by  side. 

On  the  wall  was  extended  an  immense  oil  paint 
ing  fifteen  feet  by  ten,  of  Niagara  Falls  in  frothy 
eruption,  with  a  large  and  brilliant  rainbow  lost  in 
the  mist  and  several  figures  in  the  foreground  repre 
senting  the  noble  Indians  gazing  with  feelings  of  awe 
upon  the  spectacle  of  nature.  Behind  the  desk  hung 
a  large  black  and  white  engraving  of  Abraham  Lin 
coln,  with  one  hand  resting  on  the  Proclamation  of 
Emancipation,  flanked  by  smaller  portraits  of  Henry 
Ward  Beecher  and  the  author  of  the  McKinley  tariff. 
Opposite  was  an  old-time  family  group  done  in 
crayons,  representing  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crocker  stand 
ing  side  by  side,  with  Jack  in  long  trousers  and  Tom 
in  short,  while  on  the  shining  desk  amid  the  papers 
was  a  daguerrotype  mounted  in  a  worn  leather  frame, 
of  the  wife  who  had  been  dead  fifteen  years. 

Bojo  selected  a  cigar  from  the  visitors'  box  and 
strode  up  and  down,  rehearsing  in  his  mind  the  ar 
guments  he  would  bring  to  bear  against  the  expected 
ultimatum.  From  the  window  the  lower  bay  ex 
panded  below  him  with  its  steam  insects  crawling 
across  the  blue-gray  surface,  its  wharf-crowded 
shores,  beyond  the  ledges  on  ledges  of  factories 
trailing  cotton  streamers  against  the  brittle  sky. 
Everywhere  the  empire  of  industry  extended  its  stone 
barracks  without  loveliness  or  pomp,  smoke-grimed, 
implacable  prisons,  where  multitudes  herded  under 
artificial  light  that  humanity  might  live  in  terms  of 
millions. 


48  MAKING  MONEY 

As  he  looked,  he  seemed  already  to  have  surren 
dered  his  individuality,  swallowed  up  in  the  army  of 
labor,  and  the  revolt  arose  in  him  anew.  What  was 
the  use  of  money  if  it  could  not  bring  a  wider  horizon 
and  greater  opportunities?  And  a  sort  of  dull  anger 
moved  in  him  against  the  parental  ambition  which 
limited  him  to  unnecessary  drudgery. 

Of  all  the  persons  he  had  met  the  greatest  stranger 
to  him  was  his  father.  Since  his  mother's  death, 
when  he  was  but  eight  years  of  age,  his  life  had  been 
spent  in  boarding  school  and  college,  in  summer 
camps  or  on  visits  to  chums.  Their  relations  had 
been  formal.  At  the  beginning  and  end  of  each 
summer  he  had  come  down  the  long  avenue  of  desks, 
past  the  glass  doors  into  the  private  office,  to  report, 
to  receive  money,  and  to  be  sped  with  a  few  appro 
priate  words  of  advice.  Several  times  during  the 
year  his  father  would  appear  on  a  short  warning, 
stay  a  few  hours,  and  hurry  off.  On  such  occasions 
Tom  had  always  felt  that  he  was  being  surveyed  and 
estimated  as  a  lumberman  watches  the  growth  of  a 
young  forest. 

His  father  was  always  in  a  hurry,  always  in  good 
health,  matter  of  fact,  and  generous.  That  his  busi 
ness  had  prospered  and  extended  he  knew,  though 
to  what  extent  his  father's  activities  had  multiplied 
he  still  was  ignorant.  Conversation  between  them 
had  always  been  difficult  in  those  tours  of  inspec 
tion  ;  but  Bojo,  instinctively,  censored  the  lithographs 
on  the  wall  (harmless  though  they  were)  and  the 
choice  of  novels  which  his  father  would  be  sure  to 
examine  with  a  critical  eye. 

Klondike,  the  sweep,  arranged  the  room  in  mili- 


BOJO'S  FATHER  49 

tary  order  and  Fred  DeLancy  was  enjoined  to  ob 
serve  a  bread-and-milk  diet.  Bojo  had  an  idea  that 
his  father  was  very  stern,  rigid,  and  exact,  with  the 
unrelenting  attitude  toward  folly  and  leisure  which 
had  characterized  the  Crocker  family  in  the  days  of 
their  seven  celebrated  divines. 

"  How  are  you,  Tom  ?  "  said  a  chest-voice  behind 
him.  "  Turn  around.  You  look  in  first-class  shape. 
Glad  to  see  you." 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  father,"  he  said  hastily,  taking 
the  stubby,  powerful  hand. 

"  Just  a  moment  —  go  on  with  your  cigar.  Let 
me  straighten  out  this  desk.  Train  was  ten  minutes 
late." 

"  Now  it  comes,"  thought  Bojo  to  himself  as  he 
gripped  his  hands  and  assumed  a  determined  frown. 

As  they  faced  each  other  they  were  astonishingly 
alike  and  unlike.  They  had  the  same  squaring  of 
the  brows,  the  same  obstinate  rise  of  the  head  at  the 
back,  and  the  prominent  undershot  jaw.  Years  had 
thickened  the  frame  of  the  father  and  written  char 
acteristic  lines  about  the  mouth  and  the  eyes.  He 
had  become  so  integral  a  part  of  the  machine  he  had 
created  that  in  the  process  all  the  finer  youthful 
shades  of  expression  had  faded  away. 

Concentration  on  a  fixed  idea,  indomitable  purpose, 
decision,  self-discipline  were  there  in  the  strongly 
sculptured  chin  and  maxillary  muscles,  under  the 
sparse,  close-cropped  beard  shot  with  gray;  courage 
and  tenacity  in  the  deep  eyes,  which,  like  Bojo's,  had 
the  disconcerting  fixity  of  the  mastiff's ;  but  the  qual 
ity  of  dreams  which  so  keenly  qualified  the  tempestu 
ous  obstinacy  of  the  son  had  been  discarded  as  so  much 


50  MAKING  MONEY 

superfluous  baggage.  Life  to  him  was  a  succession  of 
immediate  necessities,  a  military  progress,  and  his 
imagination  went  with  difficulty  beyond  the  demands 
of  the  hour.  He  dressed  in  a  pepper-and-salt  busi 
ness  suit  made  of  his  own  product,  wore  a  made-up 
tie  and  comfortable  square-toed  shoes,  with  a  certain 
aggressive  disdain  for  the  fashions  as  a  quality  of 
pretentiousness. 

He  ran  through  his  correspondence  in  five  minutes 
while  Bojo  pricked  up  his  ears  at  the  sums  which  he 
flung  off  without  hesitation.  Richardson  faded  from 
the  room,  the  father  shifted  a  package  of  memoranda, 
turned  the  face  of  his  desk  clock  so  he  could  follow 
the  time,  drew  back  in  his  chair,  and  helped  himself 
to  a  cigar,  shooting  a  glance  at  the  embattled  figure 
of  the  son. 

"  You  look  all  primed  up  —  ready  to  jump  in  the 
ring,"  he  said  with  a  smile,  and  without  waiting  for 
Bo  jo's  embarrassed  answer  he  continued,  caging  his 
fingers  and  adopting  a  quick,  incisive  tone. 

"  Well,  Tom,  you  have  now  arrived  at  man's  es 
tate  and  it  is  right  that  I  should  discuss  with  you 
your  future  course  in  life.  But  before  we  come  to 
that  I  wish  to  say  several  things.  You've  finished 
your  college  course  very  creditably.  You  have  en 
gaged  a  good  deal  in  different  sports,  it  is  true;  but 
you  have  not  allowed  it  to  interfere  with  your  serious 
work,  and  I  believe  on  the  whole  your  experience  in 
athletics  has  been  valuable.  It  has  taught  you  quali 
ties  of  self-restraint  and  discipline,  and  it  has  given 
you  a  sound  body.  Your  record  in  your  studies, 
while  it  has  not  been  brilliant,  has  been  creditable. 
You've  kept  out  of  bad  company,  chosen  the  right 


BOJO'S  FATHER  51 

friends  —  I  am  particularly  impressed  with  Mr. 
Granning  —  and  you've  not  gone  in  for  dissipation. 
You've  done  well  and  I  have  no  complaint.  You've 
worked  hard  and  you've  played  hard.  You  will  take 
a  serious  view  of  life." 

This  discourse  annoyed  Bojo.  It  seemed  to  fling 
a  barrier  of  conventionality  between  them,  driving 
them  further  apart. 

"  Why  the  deuce  doesn't  he  talk  in  a  natural 
way  ? "  he  thought  moodily.  And  he  felt  with  a 
sudden  depression  the  futility  of  arguing  his  case. 
"  We're  in  for  a  row.  There's  no  way  out." 

"  Now,  Tom,  let's  talk  about  the  future." 

"  Here  it  comes,"  said  Bojo  to  himself,  bracing 
himself  to  resist. 

"  What  would  you  like  to  do  ?  " 

"  What  would  /  like  ?  "  said  Tom,  completely  off 
his  guard. 

"  Yes,  what  are  your  ideas  ?  " 

The  turn  was  so  unexpected  that  he  could  not 
for  the  moment  assemble  his  thoughts.  He  rose, 
making  a  pretext  of  seeking  an  ash-tray,  and  re 
turned. 

"  Why,  to  tell  the  truth,  sir,  I  came  here  expecting 
that  you  would  demand  that  I  go  into  this  —  into 
the  mills." 

"  I  see,  and  you  don't  want  to  do  what  your 
father's  done.  You  want  something  else,  something 
better." 

The  tone  in  which  this  was  said  aroused  the  ob 
stinacy  in  the  young  man,  but  he  repressed  the  first 
answer. 

"Well?" 


52  MAKING  MONEY 

"  I  don't  know,  sir,  that  there's  any  use  of  my  ex 
plaining  myself;  I  don't  know  what  good  it'll  do," 
he  said  slowly. 

"On  the  contrary,  I  am  not  making  demands  on 
you.  I  am  here  to  discuss  with  you."  (Bojo  re 
pressed  a  smile  at  this.)  "  You've  thought  about  this. 
What  do  you  suggest  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  you'll  understand  it  at  all,  but  I 
want  time." 

"Time  to  do  what?" 

"  To  get  out  and  see  the  world,  to  meet  men  who 
are  doing  things,  to  get  a  chance  to  develop,  to  get 
my  ideas  straightened  out  a  bit." 

"Is  that  all?" 

"  No,  that's  not  quite  honest,"  said  Bojo  suddenly. 
"  The  truth  is,  sir,  I  don't  see  why  I  should  begin  all 
over  again,  the  drudgery  and  the  isolation  and  all. 
If  you  wanted  me  to  do  only  that  why  did  you  send 
me  to  college?  I've  made  friends  and  it's  only  right 
I  should  have  the  opportunity  to  lead  as  big  a  life 
as  they.  Money  isn't  everything,  it's  what  you  get 
out  of  life,  and  besides  I've  got  opportunities,  un 
usual  opportunities  to  get  ahead  here." 

"  Have  you  made  up  your  mind,  Tom  ?  "  said  the 
father  slowly. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  have,  sir." 

"  Let  me  talk  to  you.  You  may  see  it  in  a  differ 
ent  light.  First  you  speak  of  opportunities  —  what 
opportunities  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Drake  has  been  kind  enough  — " 

"  That  means  Wall  Street." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

The  father  thought  a  moment. 


BOJO'S  FATHER  53 

"  What  is  the  situation  between  you  and  Miss 
Drake?" 

"  We  are  very  good  friends." 

"  Would  you  marry  her  if  you  didn't  have  a  cent?  " 

"  I  would  not." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that.  Very  glad. 
So  you're  going  into  Wall  Street,"  he  said,  after  a 
moment.  "  Are  you  going  into  the  banking  busi 
ness?" 

"  Why,  no." 

"  Or  into  railroads  or  any  creative  industry?" 

"  Not  exactly." 

"  You're  going  into  Wall  Street,"  said  Crocker, 
"  like  a  great  many  young  men,  who've  been  having 
an  easy,  luxurious  time  at  college  and  who  want  to 
go  on  with  it.  You're  going  there  as  a  gambler, 
hoping  to  get  the  inside  track  through  some  influ 
ence  and  make  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  other 
people's  money  in  a  lucky  year." 

"  That's  rather  a  hard  way  to  put  it,  sir." 

"  You  don't  pretend  to  be  able  to  earn  a  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  one  year  or  in  five,  do  you, 
Tom?" 

"  Let  me  put  it  in  another  way,"  said  Bo  jo  after 
a  moment's  indecision.  "  What  you  have  made  and 
what  you  have  been  able  to  give  me  have  put  me  in 
the  way  of  acquiring  friends  that  others  can't  make, 
and  friends  are  assets.  The  higher  up  you  go  in 
society  the  easier  it  is  to  make  money;  isn't  it  so? 
Opportunities  are  assets  also.  If  I  have  the  oppor 
tunity  to  make  a  lot  of  money  in  a  short  time,  what 
is  the  sense  of  turning  my  back  on  the  easiest  way 
and  taking  up  the  hardest  ?  " 


54  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Tom,  do  you  young  fellows  ever  stop  to  think 
that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  your  own  country,  and 
that  if  you've  got  advantages  you've  also  got  respon 
sibilities  ? "  said  Crocker,  senior,  shaking  his  head. 
"  You  want  money  like  all  the  rest.  What  good  do 
you  want  to  do  in  return?  What  usefulness  do  you 
accomplish  in  the  scheme  of  things  here?  You  talk 
of  opportunity  —  you  don't  know  what  a  real  oppor 
tunity  and  a  privilege  is.  Now  let  me  say  my  say." 

Richardson  came  sliding  into  the  room  at  this  mo 
ment  and  he  paused  to  deny  the  card,  with  a  curt 
order  against  further  interruptions.  When  he  re 
sumed  it  was  on  a  quieter  note,  with  a  touch  of  sad 
ness. 

"  The  trouble  is,  our  points  of  view  are  too  far 
apart  for  us  to  come  together  at  present.  You  want 
something  that  isn't  going  to  satisfy  you  and  I  know 
isn't  going  to  satisfy  you.  But  I  can't  make  you 
see  it,  there's  the  pity  of  it.  You've  got  to  get  your 
hard  knocks  yourself.  You've  got  real  ambition  in 
you.  Now  let  me  tell  you  something  about  the  mills 
and  you  think  it  over.  There's  some  bigger  things 
in  this  world  than  you  think,  and  the  biggest  is  to 
create  something,  something  useful  to  the  commu 
nity;  to  make  a  monument  of  it  and  to  pass  it  down 
for  your  son  to  carry  on  —  family  pride.  You  think 
there's  only  drudgery  in  it.  Did  you  ever  think 
there  were  thousands  and  thousands  of  people  de 
pending  on  how  you  run  your  business?  Do  you 
realize  that  every  great  business  to-day  means  the 
protection  of  those  thousands;  that  you've  got  to 
study  out  how  to  protect  them  at  every  point  in  or 
der  to  make  them  efficient;  that  there's  nothing  un- 


BOJO'S  FATHER  55 

important?  You've  got  to  watch  over  their  health 
and  their  happiness,  see  that  they  get  amusement, 
relaxation;  that  they're  encouraged  to  buy  homes 
and  taught  to  save  money.  You've  got  to  see  that 
they  get  education  to  keep  them  out  of  the  hands  of 
ignorant  agitators.  You've  got  to  make  them  self- 
respecting  and  able  intelligently  to  understand  your 
own  business,  so  that  they'll  perceive  they're  getting 
their  just  share.  Add  to  that  the  other  side,  the 
competition,  the  watching  of  every  new  invention, 
the  calculating  to  the  last  cent,  the  study  of  local 
and  foreign  conditions  of  supply  and  demand,  the 
habits  and  tastes  of  different  communities.  Add  also 
the  biggest  thing  that  you've  got,  a  mixed  population, 
that's  got  to  be  turned  into  intelligent,  useful  Amer 
ican  citizens,  and  you've  got  as  big  an  opportunity 
and  responsibility  as  you  can  place  before  any  young 
fellow  I  know.  What  do  you  say  ?  " 

Bojo  had  nothing  to  say  —  not  that  he  had  sur 
rendered,  but  that  his  own  arguments  seemed  petty 
besides  these. 

The  father  rose  and  laid  his  hands  on  his  son's 
shoulders. 

"  Why,  Tom,  don't  you  know  it's  been  the  dream 
of  my  life  to  hand  you  down  this  thing  that  I've  built 
myself?  Don't  you  know  there's  a  sentiment  about 
it?  Why,  it  isn't  dollars  and  cents:  I've  got  ten 
times  what  I  want;  it's  pride.  I'm  proud  of  every 
bit  of  it.  There  isn't  a  new  turn,  mechanical  or 
social,  has  come  up  over  the  world  but  what  I've 
adopted  it  there.  I  haven't  had  a  strike  in  fifteen 
years.  I've  done  things  there  would  open  your  eyes. 
You'd  be  proud.  Well,  what  are  you  thinking?  " 


56  MAKING  MONEY 

"  You  make  it  very  hard,  sir,"  he  said  slowly.  He 
had  not  expected  this  sort  of  appeal.  "  If  I  were 
older,  I  don't  know  —  but  it's  hard  now."  He  could 
not  tell  him  all  the  surrender  would  mean,  and  though 
his  deeper  nature  had  been  reached  he  still  fought  on. 
"  I'm  not  starting  where  you  started,  sir ;  that's  the 
trouble.  You  went  to  work  when  you  were  twelve. 
It  would  be  easier  if  I  had,  and,  if  you'll  forgive  me, 
it's  your  fault  too  that  I  want  what  I  want  now. 
I  suppose  I  do  want  to  begin  on  top,  but  I've  been 
on  top  all  these  years,  that's  all.  I  couldn't  do  it  now ; 
perhaps  later  —  I  don't  know.  If  I  went  up  to  the 
mills  now  I  should  eat  my  heart  out.  I'm  sorry  to 
have  to  say  this  to  you,  but  it's  the  truth." 

The  father  left  him  abruptly  and  seated  himself 
at  his  desk  without  speaking. 

"  If  I  insisted  you  would  refuse,"  he  said  slowly. 

"  I'm  afraid  I'd  have  to,  sir,"  said  Bojo,  with  a 
feeling  of  dread. 

There  was  another  silence,  at  the  end  of  which  Mr. 
Crocker  drew  out  his  check-book  and  looked  at  it 
solemnly. 

"  Good !  Now  he's  figuring  how  much  he'll  give 
me  and  cut  me  off !  "  thought  the  son. 

"Tom,  I  don't  want  to  lose  you  too,"  said  the 
father  slowly.  "  I'm  going  to  try  a  different  way 
with  you.  You're  sound  and  you  ring  true.  The 
only  trouble  is  you  don't  know;  you've  got  to  learn 
your  lesson.  So  you  think  if  you  had  a  start  you'd 
clean  up  a  fortune,  don't  you?  —  and  you  believe — " 
he  paused  — "  in  Wall  Street  friends.  Very  well ; 
I'm  going  to  give  you  an  opportunity  to  get  your  eyes 
open." 


BOJO'S  FATHER  57 

He  dipped  his  pen  in  the  ink  and  wrote  a  check 
with  deliberation,  while  Bojo,  puzzled,  thought  to 
himself:  "  What  the  deuce  is  he  up  to  now?" 

"  I'm  not  going  to  make  a  bargain  with  you.  I'm 
going  to  trust  to  experience  and  to  the  Crocker  in 
you.  I  know  the  stuff  you're  made  of.  You'll  never 
make  an  idler,  you'll  never  stand  that  life,  but  you 
want  to  try  it.  Very  well.  I'm  going  to  give  you 
a  check.  It's  yours.  Play  with  it  all  you  want. 
You'll  get  it  taken  away  from  you  in  two  years  at 
the  most.  When  that  happens  come  back  to  me,  do 
you  understand,  where  you  belong!  Blood's  thicker 
than  water,  my  boy;  there's  something  in  father  and 
son  sticking  together,  doing  something  that  counts! 
Here,  take  this." 

And  he  placed  in  his  hand  a  check  which  read : 

Pay  to  the  order  of  Thomas  Beachamp  Crocker 
Fifty  thousand  dollars 

JOTHAM   B.   CROCKER. 


CHAPTER  V 

DANIEL  DRAKE,   THE   MULTI-MILLIONAIRE 

A  WEEK  after  his  interview  with  his  father,  Tom 
Crocker  entered  the  great  shadowy  library  of 
the  Drakes  in  response  to  an  invitation  from  the  fa 
ther.  At  this  time,  when  Wall  Street  was  approach 
ing  that  dramatic  phase  which  is  inevitable  in  social 
transformations,  when  dominant  and  outstanding  in 
dividualities  succumb  to  the  obliterating  rise  of  bu 
reaucracies,  there  was  no  more  picturesque  personal 
ity  than  Daniel  Drake.  He  had  come  to  New  York 
several  years  before,  awaited  as  a  vaulting  spirit  who 
played  the  game  recklessly  and  who  would  never 
cease  to  aspire  until  he  had  forced  his  way  to  the 
top  or  been  utterly  broken  in  the  attempt. 

His  career  had  bordered  on  the  fantastic.  As  a 
boy  the  Wanderlust  had  driven  him  over  the  face  of 
the  globe.  A  shrewd  capacity  for  making  money 
of  anything  to  which  he  put  his  hand  had  carried 
him  through  strange  professions.  He  had  been  a 
pedler  on  the  Mississippi,  cook  on  a  tramp  steamer 
to  Australia,  boxed  in  minor  professional  encounters, 
exhibited  as  a  trick  bicycle  rider,  served  as  a  soldier 
of  fortune  up  and  down  Central  America,  and  re 
turned  to  his  native  country  to  establish  a  small  for 
tune  in  the  field  of  the  country  fairs. 

With  the  acquisition  of  capital,  he  became  con- 

58 


THE  MULTI-MILLIONAIRE  59 

servative  and  industrious.  Reconciled  with  his  fam 
ily,  he  had  secured  the  necessary  funds  to  attempt  an 
operation  in  the  wheat  market  which,  conducted  on 
a  reasonable  scale,  netted  him  a  handsome  profit  and 
enlarged  his  activities.  His  genius  for  manipulation 
and  trading,  which  was  soon  recognized,  brought  him 
into  the  services  of  big  industries.  He  made  money 
rapidly,  and  married  impulsively  against  the  advice 
of  his  friends  a  woman  of  social  prominence  who 
cared  absolutely  nothing  about  him  —  a  fact  which 
he  was  the  last  to  perceive. 

He  next  undertook  a  daring  operation,  the  buying 
up  of  the  control  of  a  great  industry  in  competition 
with  an  eastern  group.  A  friend  whom  he  trusted 
betrayed  the  pool  he  had  formed,  and  the  loyalty  of 
his  associates,  which  made  him  continue,  completely 
bankrupted  him.  Before  the  public  had  even  an 
inkling  of  the  extent  of  his  catastrophe  he  had  mended 
his  fortunes  by  the  brilliant  stroke,  secured  control 
of  one  of  the  subsidiary  companies  destined  for  the 
steel  trust,  and  realized  a  couple  of  millions  as  his 
share.  When  he  referred  to  this  moment,  which  he 
often  did,  he  used  to  say  frankly: 

"  We  went  into  the  meeting  bankrupt  and  came  out 
seven  millionaires." 

He  became  the  leader  of  a  group  of  young  financiers 
who  acquired  and  developed  with  amazing  success  a 
chain  of  impoverished  railroads.  He  played  the 
game,  scrupulous  to  his  word,  merciless  in  a  fight, 
generous  to  a  conquered  enemy,  for  the  love  of  the 
game  itself.  'A  big  man  with  a  curious  atmosphere 
of  amused  calm  in  the  midst  of  the  flurry  and  tur 
moil  he  aroused,  he  enjoyed  the  turns  and  twists  of 


60  MAKING  MONEY 

fate  with  the  zest  of  a  boy  —  gray-eyed,  imperturb 
able,  and  magnetic,  winning  even  those  who  saw  in 
him  an  ethical  and  economical  danger. 

Such  was  the  man  who  was  bending  over  a  great 
oaken  table  engrossed  in  the  piecing  together  of  an 
intricate  picture  puzzle,  as  Bo  jo  came  through  the 
heavy  tapestry  portieres.  Patsie,  perched  on  a  cor 
ner,  was  looking  on  with  approving  interest  at  the 
happy  solving  of  a  perplexing  group.  She  sprang 
down,  flung  her  arms  about  her  father  in  an  impul 
sive  farewell,  and  came  prancing  over  to  Bojo  with  a 
laughing  warning: 

"  Whatever  you  do,  never  find  a  piece  for  him.  It 
makes  him  madder  than  a  wet  hen.  He  wants  to 
do  it  all  himself.  Now  I'm  running  off.  Don't 
worry !  Go  on,  talk  your  old  business." 

She  went  off  like  the  flash  of  a  golden  bird  while 
Bojo,  slightly  intimidated,  was  wishing  she  might 
remain. 

"  Tom  —  glad  to  see  you  —  come  in  —  just  a  mo 
ment —  help  yourself  to  a  cigar.  Confound  that 
piece,  I  knew  it  fitted  in  there!"  Drake  left  the 
board  with  a  lingering  regret,  shook  hands  with  a 
grip  that  seemed  to  envelop  the  young  man,  and 
went  to  the  mantel  for  a  match,  where  a  large  eques 
trian  statue  of  Bartolommeo  Colleoni  rose  threaten 
ingly  from  the  shadows. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  my  boy  —  my  orders  are  in 
from  the  General  Manager,  and  when  the  General 
Manager  gives  orders  I  know  it  means  hustle ! " 
By  this  title  he  designated  Doris,  whose  practical  am 
bitions  and  perseverance  he  satirized  with  an  in 
dulgent  smile.  "  Far  as  I  can  make  out,  Doris  has 


THE  MULTI-MILLIONAIRE  61 

determined  to  make  you  a  millionaire  in  a  couple  of 
years  or  so,  so  I  suppose  the  best  thing  is*  to  sit  down 
and  discuss  it." 

As  he  stood  there  gaunt  and  alert  against  the  bronze 
background,  there  was  something  about  him  too  of 
the  old  condottieri,  a  certain  blunt  and  hardened 
quality  of  the  grizzled  head,  as  though  he  too  had 
just  flung  back  a  steel  helmet  and  emerged  tense  and 
victorious  from  a  bruising  scramble. 

"  Suppose  he's  figuring  out  that  I'll  cost  him  less 
than  the  Duke,"  thought  Tom,  conscious  of  a  certain 
proprietary  estimation  below  all  the  surface  urbanity, 
and,  squaring  to  the  charge,  he  said :  "  I'm  afraid, 
sir,  you've  a  pretty  poor  opinion  of  me." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  Drake,  with  sudden 
interest. 

"  May  I  talk  to  you  plainly,  sir  ?  "  said  Tom,  a  little 
flustered.  "  I  don't  know  just  how  I  feel  about 
Doris  or  even  just  how  she  feels  about  me.  I  cer 
tainly  have  no  intention  of  marrying  her  until  I 
know  what  I  am  worth  myself,  and  I  certainly  don't 
intend  to  come  to  you,  her  father,  to  make  money 
for  me." 

He  stopped  with  a  little  fear  for  his  boldness,  for 
this  had  not  been  his  intention  on  entering  the  room. 
In  fact,  he  had  come  rather  in  a  state  of  indecision, 
after  long  discussions  with  Doris,  and  much  serving 
up  of  sophistries  to  his  conscience ;  but  Drake's  greet 
ing  had  struck  at  his  young  independence,  as  perhaps 
it  had  been  meant  to  do,  and  an  impulsive  wave  of 
indignation  overruled  his  calculations.  He  stood  a 
little  apprehensive,  watching  the  older  man,  wonder 
ing  how  he  would  receive  the  defiance. 


62  MAKING  MONEY 

"  That's  talking,'*  said  Drake,  with  an  approving 
smile.  "  Go  on." 

"  Mr.  Drake,  I  can't  help  feeling  that  we're  going 
to  look  at  things  more  and  more  from  a  different  point 
of  view.  Doris  cares  for  me  —  I  suppose  so  —  if 
she  can  have  me  without  sacrificing  anything.  I  don't 
express  it  very  well,  but  I  do  feel  at  times  that  she's 
more  interested  in  what  she  can  make  out  of  me  than 
in  me,  and  I  don't  know  if  I'll  work  out  the  way  she 
wants;  in  fact,  I'm  not  at  all  sure,"  he  blurted  out 
pugnaciously.  "  But  I  want  to  work  out  that  way, 
and  if  I  don't  there'll  come  a  smashup  pretty  soon." 

"  There's  something  in  what  you  say,"  said  Drake, 
nodding,  "  and  I  like  your  coming  straight  out  with 
it.  Now  look  here,  my  boy,  I'm  not  going  to  take 
hold  of  you  because  I  expect  you  to  marry  Doris,  but 
because  I  want  you  to  marry  her!  Get  that  down. 
I  can  control  lots  of  things,  but  I  can't  control  the 
women.  They  beat  me  every  time.  I'm  pulp.  I've 
given  in  once,  though  Lord  knows  I  hope  my  little 
girl  won't  regret  it.  I've  got  one  decayed  foreign 
title  dangling  to  the  totem-pole,  and  that's  enough; 
that's  got  to  satisfy  the  missus.  I  don't  want  an 
other  and  I  don't  want  any  high-stepping  Fifth 
Avenue  dude.  I  want  a  man,  one  of  my  own  kind 
who  can  talk  my  language." 

He  arose,  took  a  turn,  and  clapped  him  on  the 
shoulder.  "  I  want  you.  I  settled  that  in  my  own 
mind  long  ago.  Now  I'm  going  to  talk  as  plain  to 
you.  As  you  get  on  you'll  look  at  people  differently 
than  you  do.  You'll  see  how  much  is  due  to  accident, 
the  parting  of  the  ways,  going  to  the  left  instead  of 
to  the  right.  Now  I  know  Doris.  I've  watched  her. 


THE  MULTI-MILLIONAIRE  63 

She's  got  two  sides  to  her;  you  appeal  to  the  best. 
I  know  it.  She  knows  it.  She  wouldn't  marry  you 
if  you  were  a  beggar  —  women  are  that  way  —  but 
she'll  stick  to  you  loyal,  as  a  regular,  if  she  marries 
you ;  and  you're  not  going  to  be  a  beggar." 

"  Yes,  if  I  consent  to  close  my  eyes  and  let  you 
build  — " 

"  Now  don't  get  huffy.  I'm  not  going  to  tuck 
you  under  my  wing,"  said  Drake,  grinning.  "  Fur 
thermore,  I  wouldn't  want  you  in  the  family  if  I 
didn't  know  you  had  stuff  in  you.  Don't  you  think 
I  want  some  one  I  can  trust  in  this  cut-throat  game? 
Don't  worry,  if  you're  the  right  sort  I  can  use  you. 
Now  quit  thinking  too  much  —  let  things  work  out. 
Doris  is  the  kind  that  belongs  at  the  top ;  she's  bound 
to  be  a  leader,  and  we're  going  to  put  her  there,  you 
and  I.  Now  what  do  you  want  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  stand  on  my  own  feet,"  said  Tom,  with 
a  last  resistance.  "  I  want  to  see  what  I'm  worth 
by  myself." 

"  Wall  Street,  of  course,"  said  Drake,  grinning 
again.  "  Well,  why  not  ?  You'll  learn  quicker  the 
things  you've  got  to  learn,  even  if  it  costs  you  more." 

He  flung  down  in  a  great  arm-chair,  and  stared 
out  at  the  raw  recruit  as  though  for  an  instant  rolling 
back  the  years  to  his  own  beginnings. 

"  Tom,  if  you're  going  in,"  he  said  all  at  once, 
"  go  in  with  your  eyes  open  and  make  up  your  mind 
soon  what  you  want ;  but  when  you've  made  up  your 
mind  don't  fool  yourself.  If  you  want  to  plod  along 
safe  and  sane,  you  can  do  it  just  as  well  in  Wall 
Street  as  anywhere  else.  But  I  reckon  that's  not 
what  you're  after."  He  chuckled  at  Bojo's  confused 


64  MAKING  MONEY 

acknowledgment  of  the  patness  of  his  surmise  and 
continued : 

"  Well,  then,  recognize  that  what  you're  going  into 
is  war,  nothing  more  nor  less.  You  see,  we're  a 
curious  people ;  we  haven't  had  the  chance  to  develop 
as  others.  And  there's  something  instinctive  about 
war;  in  a  growing  nation  it  lets  off  a  lot  of  wild 
energy.  Now  there's  a  group  of  the  big  fellows 
here  that  ought  to  have  had  a  chance  at  being  field 
marshals  or  admirals,  and  because  they  haven't  the 
chance  they've  developed  a  special  little  battlefield  of 
their  own  to  fight  each  other.  And,  say,  the  big 
fellows  don't  fool  themselves  —  they  know  what 
they're  doing!  They're  under  no  illusions.  But 
there're  a  lot  of  big  little  men  down  there  who  go 
around  hugging  delusions  to  their  hearts,  who'll  sack 
a  railroad  or  lay  siege  to  a  corporation  with  the  idea 
they're  ordained  to  grab  the  other  fellow's  prop 
erty.  Now  I  don't  fool  myself:  that's  my  strong 
point.  I'm  grabbing  as  fast  as  the  other  fellow,  but 
I  know  the  time's  coming  when  they  won't  let  us 
grab  any  more.  I  do  it  because  I  \vant  to,  because 
I  love  it  and  because  we're  founding  aristocracies 
here  as  the  Old  World  did  a  couple  of  centuries  ago. 
Well,  to  come  back  to  you.  I'll  see  you  start  in  a 
good  firm — " 

"  I'd  rather  do  it  myself." 

"  As  you  wish.     Got  any  money?" 

"  Fifty  thousand  dollars,"  said  Tom,  who  then  re 
lated  his  father's  prediction. 

"  Ordinarily  he's  a  good  guesser,"  said  Drake, 
laughing.  "  But  we  may  put  one  over  on  him. 
There's  a  scheme  I've  been  brewing  over  for  a  big 


THE  MULTI-MILLIONAIRE  65 

combine  in  the  woolen  industry  that  may  give  him 
a  pleasant  surprise.  Well,  then,  start  in  on  your  own 
feet,  my  boy.  Learn  all  you  can  of  men.  Study 
them  —  browse  around  in  figures,  if  you  want,  but 
everlastingly  keep  your  eyes  on  men!  It's  the  man 
and  not  the  proposition  that's  gilt-edged  or  empty. 
You've  got  to  learn  how  the  other  fellow  thinks,  what 
he'll  do  in  a  given  situation,  if  you're  going  to  think 
ahead  of  him,  and  that's  the  quality  that  counts. 
That's  where  I've  got  them  guessing,  every  minute 
of  the  day;  there  isn't  one  of  them  can  figure  out 
now  if  I'm  twenty  millions  to  the  good  or  ten  be 
hind. 

"  Why,  Tom,  there  was  a  time  when  I  was  stone 
broke  —  by  golly,  even  my  creditors  were  broke, 
which  is  an  awful  thing;  and  everything  depended 
on  my  getting  the  right  backing  on  the  proposition 
that  saved  me.  Do  you  think  any  one  of  those 
sleuth-hounds  were  on?  Not  on  your  life.  I  was 
living  at  the  biggest  hotel,  in  the  biggest  suite,  spill 
ing  money  all  over  the  city  —  on  tick,  of  course. 
And,  say,  in  the  critical  week,  when  I  was  dodging 
my  own  tailor,  I  sent  the  missus  (she  didn't  know 
anything,  either)  up  to  Fifth  Avenue  to  buy  a  $100,- 
ooo  necklace.  That  settled  it.  The  other  fellows, 
the  fellows  whose  brains  wind  up  like  clocks,  couldn't 
figure  it  out.  I  got  my  backing." 

"  But  supposing  you  hadn't,"  said  Bojo  involun 
tarily.  He  had  been  listening  to  this  recital  open- 
eyed  like  a  child  at  a  circus.  "  What  would  have 
happened  ?  " 

Drake  laughed  contentedly.  "  There  you  are. 
That's  all  the  other  fellow  could  figure  on..  Now 


66  MAKING  MONEY 

don't  imagine  you  can  do  what  I  did  —  you  can't. 
I  suppose  there's  no  use  telling  you  not  to  speculate, 
because  you're  going  to,  no  matter  what  you  think 
now.  You  will,  because  the  young  fellow  who  goes 
into  Wall  Street  and  doesn't  think  he's  a  genius  in 
the  first  three  months  hasn't  been  born  yet !  But  the 
first  time  it  comes  over  you,  throw  only  a  third  of 
your  capital  out  of  the  window.  Do  you  get  me?  " 

"  I  won't  do  that,"  said  Bo  jo  resolutely. 

"  Go  on.  Do.  You  ought.  It's  cheap  at  that ! 
I  paid  seven  hundred  thousand  for  the  same  informa 
tion,"  said  Drake,  giving  him  his  hand.  He  caught 
his  shoulder  in  his  powerful  grip  and  added:  "If 
you  get  in  too  much  trouble,  come  to  me !  Remember 
that  and  good  luck ! " 


CHAPTER  VI 

BOJO   OBEYS   HIS   GENERAL   MANAGER 

*~PHREE  months  after  his  entry  into  Wall  Street, 
1  Bojo  emerged  from  his  bedroom  into  the  com 
munal  sitting-room  in  a  state  of  tense  excitement. 
The  day  before  he  had  taken  his  first  plunge  into  the 
world  of  speculation  and  bought  a  thousand  shares 
of  Indiana  Smelter  on  a  twenty  per  cent,  margin. 
This  transaction,  which  represented  to  his  mind  the 
inevitable  challenge  at  the  gates  of  fortune,  had  left 
him  in  a  turmoil  through  all  the  restless  night.  He 
had  taken  the  decision  which  was  to  decide  his  future 
only  after  a  long  wrestling  with  his  conscience. 

At  first  he  had  imposed  a  limit,  promising  himself 
that  he  would  not  touch  a  penny  of  his  $50,000  cap 
ital  until  he  should  know  of  his  own  knowledge. 
Gradually  this  time  limit  had  contracted.  Specula 
tion  was  in  the  air,  triumphant  and  insidious.  The 
whole  market  was  sweeping  up  irresistibly.  The 
times  were  dramatic.  Golden  opportunity  seemed 
within  every  one's  grasp.  Expansion,  development, 
amalgamation  were  on  every  tongue.  Roscoe  Marsh 
had  made  a  hundred  thousand  on  paper.  Even  Fred 
DeLancy  had  won  several  turns  which  had  netted 
him  handsome  profits. 

Bojo  had  resisted  stubbornly  at  first,  turning  heed- 
67 


68  MAKING  MONEY 

less  ears  to  the  excited  arguments  of  his  friends,  but 
the  fever  of  speculation  had  entered  his  veins,  he 
dreamed  of  nothing  else,  and  gradually  the  thought 
of  his  $50,000,  so  modestly  invested  in  four  per  cent, 
bonds  obsessed  him.  What  was  worse  was  that  each 
time  he  had  refused  to  follow  a  tip  of  Marsh  or  De- 
Lancy  or  a  dozen  new-found  friends,  he  secretly 
noted  down  the  speculation ;  and  the  thought  of  these 
dollars  he  had  refused,  which  could  have  been  his 
for  the  asking,  rose  up  before  him  in  a  constant  re 
proach.  In  the  end  it  was  Doris  who  decided  him. 

That  indefatigable  schemer,  whom  even  he  now 
called  the  General  Manager,  had  a  dozen  times  sum 
moned  him  for  an  excited  consultation  on  some  rumor 
which  she  had  caught  in  passage.  At  first  he  had 
laughed  her  down,  then  he  had  stubbornly  refused 
such  an  alliance.  But  Doris,  undaunted,  returned  to 
the  charge,  amazing  him  at  times  with  the  pertinency 
of  her  information,  which  she  picked  up  from  the 
wives  and  daughters,  from  those  who  came  as  suit 
ors,  or  as  mere  friends  of  the  family,  while  just  as 
industriously  and  cleverly  she  commandeered  her  ac 
quaintance  and  sent  Bojo  a  string  of  customers  which 
had  remarkably  affected  his  progress  in  the  broker 
age  offices  of  Hauk,  Flaspoller  and  Forshay. 

Finally  he  had  yielded,  because  for  weeks  he  had 
been  longing  to  yield  as  a  spectator  tires  of  watching 
inactive  the  spectacle  of  the  shifting  golden  combina 
tions  on  the  green  cloth  of  the  gambling  table.  She 
had  information  of  the  most  explicit  sort.  A  great 
combination  of  Middle  Western  Smelters  had  been 
held  up  for  several  weeks  by  the  refusal  of  two  great 
companies  to  enter  at  the  price  offered  —  Indiana 


BOJO  OBEYS  HIS  MANAGER  69 

Smelter  and  Rockland  Foundry.  She  knew  posi 
tively  that  the  matter  would  be  adjusted  in  the  next 
fortnight. 

"  Did  your  father  say  so  ?  "  he  asked,  really  im 
pressed,  for  Drake  was  reported  as  directly  inter 
ested. 

"  Not  in  the  first  place." 

"  But  where  did  you  get  your  information?  " 

"  Oh,  I  have  my  ways,"  she  said,  delighted,  "  and 
I  keep  my  secrets  too.  Just  remember  if  you'd  taken 
my  advice  what  you'd  have  made." 

"  It  is  astounding  how  right  you've  been,"  he  said 
doubtfully. 

"  Listen,  Bojo,  this  is  absolutely  correct.  I  know 
it.  I  can't  tell  you  now  —  I  promised  —  but  if  I 
could  you  wouldn't  have  the  slightest  doubt.  Can't 
you  trust  me  just  this  once?  Don't  you  know  that 
I'm  working  for  you?  Oh,  it's  such  an  opportunity 
for  us  both.  Listen,  if  you  won't  do  it,  buy  five 
hundred  shares  for  me  with  my  own  money.  Oh, 
how  can  I  convince  you !  " 

He  looked  away  thoughtfully;  tempted,  convinced, 
suspecting  the  source  of  her  information,  but  wishing 
to  remain  ignorant. 

"  You  are  determined  to  buy  ?  "  She  nodded  ener 
getically.  "  What  does  your  father  say?  " 

She  seized  his  idea,  saving  him  the  embarrassment 
of  a  direct  suggestion. 

"If  Dad  says  yes,  will  that  convince  you?  Wait." 
She  thought  a  moment,  pacing  up  and  down,  hum 
ming  brightly  to  herself.  Suddenly  she  turned,  her 
eyes  sparkling  with  the  delight  of  her  own  machina 
tions.  "  I'll  tell  you  how  I'll  do  it.  Next  week's  my 


70  MAKING  MONEY 

birthday.  I'll  ask  him  to  give  me  the  tip  as  a  birth 
day  present."  She  clapped  her  hands  gleefully,  add 
ing:  "I'll  tell  him  it's  for  my  trousseau.  If  he 
says  all  right  you  won't  refuse." 

"  No,  I  won't." 

She  flung  herself  joyfully  into  his  arms  at  this  vic 
tory  won,  at  this  prospect  opened. 

"  Bojo,  I  do  love  you  and  I  do  want  to  do  so  much 
for  you !  "  she  cried,  tightening  her  arms  about  his 
neck,  with  more  genuine  demonstration  than  she  had 
shown  in  months. 

"After  all,  I'd  be  a  fool  to  refuse,"  he  thought, 
excited  too,  and  aloud  he  said,  "  Yes,  Miss  General 
Manager." 

"  Oh,  call  me  anything  you  like  if  you'll  only  let 
me  manage  you !  "  she  said,  laughing.  "  Now  sit 
down  and  let  me  tell  you  all  I've  planned  out  for  you 
to  do." 

That  night  she  told  him  excitedly  over  the  telephone 
that  her  little  scheme  had  succeeded,  that  her  fatl.er 
had  given  his  O.  K.,  but  of  course  no  one  must  know. 
The  next  day  he  had  bought  five  hundred  shares  for 
her,  and  after  much  hesitation  a  thousand  for  his  own 
account  at  104^.  It  was  a  good  risk;  the  stock  had 
been  stable  for  years ;  even  if  the  combination  did  not 
go  through,  there  was  little  danger  of  a  rapid  fall; 
and  if  it  went  up  there  was  a  chance  at  a  thirty-  or 
forty-point  rise.  He  kept  the  injunction  of  secrecy, 
as  all  such  injunctions  are  kept,  to  the  point  of  telling 
only  his  closest  friends,  Marsh  and  DeLancy,  who 
bought  at  once. 

Nevertheless,  no  sooner  had  the  transaction  been 
completed  than  he  had  a  sudden  revulsion.  He  had 


BOJO  OBEYS  HIS  MANAGER  71 

been  long  enough  in  Wall  Street  to  have  heard  a  hun 
dred  tales  of  the  methods  of  big  manipulators.  What 
if  Dan  Drake's  endorsement  was  only  a  clever  ruse  to 
conceal  his  real  intentions,  quits  for  reimbursing 
Doris  afterward  with  a  check,  according  to  a  famous 
precedent?  Perhaps  he  even  suspected  that  he,  Bojo, 
had  put  Doris  up  to  it  and  was  taking  this  method  to 
read  him  the  lesson  that  his  methods  were  not  to  be 
solved  along  such  lines.  At  any  rate,  Tom  passed 
a  very  bad  night,  saying  to  himself  that  he  had  plunged 
ahead  on  the  flimsiest  sort  of  evidence  and  fully  de 
served  a  shearing. 

A  glorious  December  morning,  with  a  touch  of 
Indian  summer,  was  pouring  through  the  half -opened 
window,  bearing  the  distant  sounds  of  steam  riveters. 
Marsh  was  busily  culling  half  a  dozen  newspapers, 
while  Fred  was  yawning  over  the  eggs  and  coffee, 
when  the  mail  was  brought  in  by  the  grinning  Ori 
ental  who  had  been  dubbed  Sweeney.  DeLancy, 
who  had  the  curiosity  of  a  girl,  pounced  upon  the  let 
ters,  slinging  half  a  dozen  at  Bojo  with  a  grumbled 
comment. 

"  Dog  ding  him  if  he  isn't  more  popular  than  me! 
Important  business  letters  —  Mr.  Morgan  and  Mr. 
Rockefeller  asking  your  advice  —  society  invitations 
—  do  honor  our  humble  palace,  pink  envelope,  heavily 
scented.  I  say,  Bojo,  I've  gone  in  deep  on  your 
precious  stock,  two  hundred  shares  —  all  I  could 
scrape  together.  Hope  you  guess  right.  Anything 
I  hate  is  work,  and  10  per  cent,  margin  ought  to  be 
bolstered  up  by  divine  revelation." 

"  Wish  the  deuce  you  hadn't,"  said  Bojo,  sitting 
down  and  opening  the  formal  announcement  of  his 


72  MAKING  MONEY 

broker's  purchase,  which  struck  his  eyes  like  a  crim 
inal  warrant. 

"  Cheer  up,"  said  Marsh,  emerging  from  the  litter 
of  papers.  "  I've  got  a  tip  from  another  angle,  one 
of  the  lawyers  involved.  I'm  going  in  for  another 
couple  of  thousand  shares.  Why  so  glum,  Bo  jo  ?  " 

"  Wish  I  hadn't  told  you  fellows." 

"  Rats ;  that's  all  in  the  game !  "  said  Marsh,  but 
DeLancy  did  not  look  so  philosophical. 

Bojo  opened  several  invitations,  a  notice  from  the 
tailor  to  call  for  a  fitting,  two  letters  from  clients, 
personal  friends,  and  finally  the  pink  envelope,  which 
was  from  Doris. 

Bojo  dear: 

Whatever  you  do  don't  tell  a  soul.  Dad  questioned  me 
terrifically  and  I  told  a  little  fib.  How  many  shares  did  you 
buy?  Dad  made  me  promise  to  buy  only  five  hundred,  but  I 
know  it's  all  right  from  the  way  he  acted.  Oh,  Bojo,  I  hope 
you  make  lots  and  lots  of  money!  Wouldn't  Dad  be  surprised? 
He  asked  me  to-night  in  the  funny  gruff  way  he  puts  on,  '  How's 
that  young  man  of  yours  getting  on?  Have  they  got  his  hide 
yet?'  Won't  it  be  a  joke  on  him?  By  the  way,  I  dined  with 
the  Morrisons  (she's  an  old  school  chum  of  mine)  and  put  in 
my  clever  little  oar.  Don't  be  surprised  if  some  one  else  calls 
you  up  soon  to  place  a  little  order.  I'm  working  in  another 
direction  too.  Don't  fail  to  come  up  for  tea. 

With  much  love,  DORIS. 

P.S.  The  Tremaines  are  awfully  influential.  Be  sure  and 
go  to  their  dance. 

He  placed  the  letter  in  his  pocket  thoughtfully,  not 
entirely  happy.  It  was  a  fair  sample  of  a  score  of 
letters  —  enthusiasm,  solicitude,  ambition,  and  clever 
worldly  advice,  but  lacking  the  one  note  that  some 
thing  in  him  craved  despite  all  the  purely  mental  sat 
isfaction -the  prospect  held  for  him. 

DeLancy  continuing  to  loiter,  he  went  out,  alone, 
obsessed  with  the  thought  of  the  opening  of  the  mar- 


BOJO  OBEYS  HIS  MANAGER  73 

ket  and  the  sound  of  the  ticker,  and  caught  the  sub 
way  for  Wall  Street,  preoccupied  and  serious. 

It  had  been  three  months  now  since  the  day  when 
he  had  first  come  downtown  to  take  up  service  as  a 
broker's  runner,  and  much  had  changed  within  him 
during  that  time,  much  of  which  he  himself  was  not 
aware.  The  first  days  he  had  been  rather  bewildered 
and  resentful  of  the  menial  beginning.  It  did  not 
seem  quite  a  man's  work  —  this  messenger  service, 
and  the  contemplation  of  those  above  him,  the  men 
at  the  sheets  and  the  office  clerks,  inspired  him  with 
a  distaste.  Often  he  remembered  his  conversation 
with  his  father  and  talks  with  Granning,  the  matter- 
of-fact;  comparing  their  outlook  on  the  life  with  his 
associates  much  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  curiously 
inconsequential  throng  of  young  men  who,  like  him 
self,  were  willing  to  go  scurrying  in  the  rain  and  dark 
on  servants'  quests,  in  order  to  get  a  peek  into  the  in 
tricate  mysteries  of  Wall  Street  that  held  sudden  for 
tunes  for  those  who  could  see. 

He  had  come  out  of  college  with  a  love  of  manly 
qualities  and  the  belief  that  it  was  a  man's  privilege 
to  face  difficult  and  laborious  tasks,  and  the  prevalent 
type  among  the  beginners  was  not  his  type.  Then, 
too,  the  magnitude  of  the  Street  overpowered  him, 
the  skyscrapers  without  tops  dwarfed  him,  its  jargon 
mystified  him,  as  the  colossal  scale  of  the  operations 
he  saw  seemed  to  rob  him  of  the  sense  of  his  own  in 
dividuality.  But  gradually,  being  possessed  of 
shrewd  native  sense  and  persistence,  he  began  to  dis 
tinguish  in  the  mob  types  and  among  the  types  figures 
that  stood  out  in  bold  relief.  He  began  to  see  those 
who  would  pass  and  those  who  would  persist. 

He  began  to  meet  the  more  rugged  type,  schooled 


74  MAKING  MONEY 

in  earlier  tests,  shrewd,  cautious,  and  resolved,  self- 
made  men  who  had  abrupt  ways  of  speaking  their 
thoughts,  who  frankly  classed  him  with  other  for 
tunate  youths  and  assured  him  that  they  were  there 
by  right,  to  take  away  from  them  what  had  been 
foolishly  given  and  pay  them  back  in  experience.  He 
took  their  chaffing  in  good  humor,  seeking  their  com 
panionship  and  their  points  of  view  by  preference, 
gradually  disarming  their  criticism,  secretly  resolved 
that  whatever  might  be  the  common  fate  at  least  he 
would  not  prove  a  foolish  lamb  for  the  shearing. 

Steeled  in  this  resolution,  he  began  by  setting  his 
face  against  speculation,  investing  his  money  tem 
porarily  in  irreproachable  bonds,  refusing  to  listen  to 
all  the  tips,  whispered  or  openly  proffered,  which  as 
sailed  his  ears  from  morning  until  night,  until  the 
day  when  he  should  know  of  his  own  knowledge  of 
men  and  things.  He  worked  hard,  following 
Drake's  advice,  seeking  information  from  men  rather 
than  from  books,  checking  up  what  each  told  him  by 
what  the  next  man  had  to  say  of  his  last  informant, 
mystified  often  by  the  glib  psychology  of  finance, 
slowly  rating  men  at  their  just  value,  no  longer  lend 
ing  credulous  ear  to  the  frayed  prophets  of  New 
Street  or  thrilling  with  the  excitement  of  a  thrice  con 
fidential  tip. 

He  had  advanced  rapidly,  but  underneath  all  his 
delight  there  was  an  abiding  suspicion  that  his  prog 
ress  had  not  been  entirely  due  to  his  own  glaring  ac 
complishments,  but  that  the  name  of  Crocker,  senior, 
his  bank  account,  and  the  magic  touch  of  Daniel  Drake 
had  been  for  much. 


CHAPTER  VII 

UNDER   THE  TICKER'S   TYRANNY 

DURING  the  last  month  he  had  had  several  tenta 
tive  approaches  from  Weldon  Forshay,  who  was 
what  DeLancy  called  the  social  scavenger  of  the  firm, 
a  club  man  irreproachably  connected,  amiable  and 
winning  in  his  ways,  who  received  uptown  clients  in 
the  outer  office,  went  out  to  lunch  with  the  riding  set, 
who  lounged  in  toward  midday  for  what  they  termed 
a  whack  at  the  market.  Forshay  was  a  thoroughly 
good  fellow  who  gave  his  friends  the  best  of  advice, 
which  was  no  advice  at  all,  and  left  business  details 
to  his  partners,  Heinrich  Flaspoller  and  Silas  T. 
Hauk,  shrewd,  conservative,  self-made  men  who  ex 
changed  one  ceremonial  family  dinner  party  a  year 
with  their  brilliant  associate. 

Forshay,  who  was  no  fool  and  neglected  no  detail 
of  social  connections,  had  been  keen  to  perceive  the 
advantages  of  an  alliance  with  the  prospective  son- 
in-law  of  Daniel  Drake,  keeping  in  view  the  vol 
uminous  transactions  that  flowed  monthly  from  the 
keys  of  that  daring  manipulator.  The  transactions 
of  the  last  days  had  been  noted  with  more  than  usual 
interest,  and  Bojo's  announcement  of  the  amount  of 
collateral  which  he  had  to  offer  as  security  (he  did 
not,  naturally,  give  the  impression  that  this  was  the 

sum  of  his  holdings)  had  further  increased  the  grow- 

75 


76  MAKING  MONEY 

ing  affection  of  the  firm  for  an  industrious  young 
man,  of  such  excellent  prospects. 

When  Crocker  arrived,  excited  and  keyed  to  the 
whirring  sound  of  the  ticker,  Forshay,  a  splendid 
American  imitation  of  an  English  aristocrat,  drew 
him  affably  into  an  inner  room. 

"  I  say,  Crocker,"  he  said,  "  the  firm's  been  think 
ing  you  over  rather  seriously.  It  isn't  often  a  young 
fellow  comes  down  here  and  makes  his  way  as  quickly 
as  you.  We  like  your  methods,  and  I  think  we've 
been  quick  to  recognize  them  —  haven't  we  ?  " 

"  You  certainly  have,"  said  Tom  with  real  en 
thusiasm. 

"  You've  brought  us  business  and  you'll  bring  us 
more.  Now  some  evening  soon  I  want  you  to  come 
up  to  the  club  and  sit  down  over  a  little  dinner  and 
discuss  the  whole  prospect."  He  looked  at  him  be 
nignly  and  added :  "  I  don't  see  why  an  ambitious 
man  like  you  who  has  got  what  you  have  ahead  of 
you  shouldn't  fit  into  this  firm  before  very  long." 

"  Provided  I  marry  Miss  Doris  Drake,"  thought 
Bo  jo  to  himself.  The  cool  way  in  which  he  received 
the  news  made  a  distinct  impression  on  Forshay,  who 
went  a  little  further.  "  We  realize  that  with  the 
friends  and  backing  you've  got  you're  not  on  the  look 
out  to  stay  forever  on  a  salary.  What  you  want  is 
to  get  a  fair  share  of  the  business  you  can  swing,  and 
the  only  way  is  to  join  some  firm.  Well,  I  won't 
say  any  more  now.  You  know  what  we're  thinking. 
We'll  foregather  later." 

"  You're  very  kind,  indeed,  Mr.  Forshay,"  said 
Bo  jo,  delightfully  flustered. 

"  Not  at  all.     You're  the  kind  that  goes  ahead. 


UNDER  THE  TICKER'S  TYRANNY       77 

Oh,  by  the  way,  the  firm  wants  me  to  tell  you  that 
from  next  week  your  salary  will  be  seventy-five  dol 
lars." 

This  time  Bo  jo  gulped  down  his  surprise  and  shook 
hands  in  boyish  delight. 

"  Mighty  glad  to  give  it  to  you,"  said  Forshay, 
laughing.  "  I  see  you  think  well  of  Indiana  Smelter. 
Now  I  don't  want  you  to  betray  any  confidences,  but 
of  course  I  know  how  you  stand  in  certain  quarters. 
There  is  no  harm  in  my  saying  that,  is  there?  I've 
watched  you.  You  haven't  been  running  after  every 
rumor  on  the  block.  You're  shrewd.  You're  too 
conservative  to  invest  without  some  pretty  solid  rea 
son  or  to  let  your  friends  in  unless  you're  pretty 
sure." 

"  I  am  pretty  sure,"  said  Crocker  solemnly. 

"  I  thought  so,"  slid  Forshay  meditatively.  "  I'm 
rather  tempted  to  try  the  thing  myself.  I've  sort  of 
a  hun>  h  about  you.  I  liked  you,  Tom,  from  the  first. 
Hope  you  hit  it  hard."  He  glanced  in  the  direction 
of  the  senior  partners  and  lowered  his  voice  confi 
dentially.  "  Then  it's  good  to  see  one  of  our  own 
kind  make  good  —  you  understand?" 

In  five  minutes  Bo  jo  had  told  him  in  the  strictest 
confidence  all  he  knew.  Forshay  received  the  news 
with  thoughtful  deliberation. 

"  I'd  like  it  better  if  Dan  Drake  had  said  it  direct 
to  you,"  he  said,  frowning.  "  Still,  it's  valuable. 
There  may  be  a  good  deal  in  it.  I  think  I  can  get  a 
line  on  it  myself.  Jimmie  Boskirk  is  a  good  pal  of 
mine  and  he'll  know.  You  keep  me  informed  and  I'll 
let  you  know  what  I  find  out.  Go  a  little  slow.  Dan 
Drake  is  up  to  a  good  many  tricks.  He's  fooled  the 


78  MAKING  MONEY 

talent  many  a  time  before.  Suppose  we  say  Friday 
night  for  our  little  confab.  Good." 

The  mention  of  Jimmie  Boskirk  cast  a  damper  over 
the  delights  the  interview  had  brought  Bojo.  He 
did  not  at  once  realize  how  easily  Forshay  had  played 
him  for  the  information  he  desired  and  how  really 
valuable  he  believed  it.  He  was  lost  in  a  new  irrita 
tion.  Young  Boskirk  had  been  conspicuously  assid 
uous  in  his  attentions  to  Doris,  and  while  this  fact 
aroused  in  him  no  jealousy,  he  had  an  uncomfortable 
feeling  that  Boskirk  was  in  fact  the  source  of  her  in 
formation. 

But  the  opening  of  the  market  completely  drove  all 
other  thoughts  out  of  his  mind.  For  the  first  time 
he  came  under  the  poignant  tyranny  of  the  flowing 
tape.  Do  what  he  would  he  could  not  keep  away 
from  it.  Indiana  Smelter  opened  at  104^,  went  off 
the  fraction,  and  then  advanced  to  106  on  moderate 
strength  in  buying  orders. 

"A  point  and  a  half  —  $1500 — I've  made  $1500 
—  just  like  that,"  he  said  to  himself,  stupefied.  He 
went  to  his  desk,  but  ten  minutes  later  on  the  pretext 
of  getting  a  glass  of  water  he  returned  to  the  tape 
to  make  sure  that  his  eyes  had  not  deceived  him. 
There  it  was  again  and  no  mistake  —  200  Indiana 
Smelter,  106.  He  sat  down  at  his  desk  in  a  turmoil. 
Fifteen  hundred  dollars!  Five  times  what  he  had 
made  in  three  months.  If  he  had  bought  two  thou 
sand  shares,  as  he  could  have  easily,  at  a  safe  twenty 
per  cent,  margin,  he  would  have  made  three  thousand. 
He  felt  angry  at  himself,  defrauded,  and,  drawing  a 
paper  before  him,  he  began  to  figure  out  his  profits 


UNDER  THE  TICKER'S  TYRANNY      79 

if  the  stock  should  go  to  140  or  150,  as  every  one  said 
it  must  if  the  combination  went  through. 

Then,  in  order  to  realize  himself  his  colossal  earn 
ings,  he  called  up  Doris  on  the  telephone  to  hear  the 
sound  of  such  figures.  At  one,  when  he  went  out 
to  snatch  a  mouthful  at  a  standing  lunch,  he  consulted 
three  tickers,  impatient  that  no  further  sales  had  been 
recorded.  When  Ricketts,  who  was  still  on  the  sheets, 
came  up  to  him  with  his  daily  budget  of  gossip,  he 
listened  avidly.  Every  tip  interested  him,  fraught 
with  a  new  dramatic  significance.  He  felt  like  taking 
him  aside  and  whispering  in  his  ear : 

"  Listen,  Ricketts,  if  you  want  a  good  thing  buy 
Indiana  Smelter:  it'll  go  to  140.  I've  made  fifteen 
hundred  dollars  on  it  in  a  couple  of  hours." 

But  he  did  nothing  of  the  sort.  He  looked  very 
wise  and  bored,  feeling  immensely  superior  as  a  capi 
talist  and  future  member  of  the  firm  of  Hauk,  Flas- 
poller  and  Forshay,  over  Ricketts,  who  had  started 
when  he  had  started  and  was  still  on  the  sheets  at 
fifteen  dollars  a  week.  "  Whispering  Bill  "  Golightly, 
who  had  the  hypnotic  art  of  inducing  clients  to  buy 
and  sell  and  buy  again  all  in  the  same  day,  on  artfully 
fluctuating  rumors  (to  no  disparagement  of  his  com 
mission  account),  came  sidling  up,  and  he  hailed  him 
regally. 

"  Hello,  Bill,  what  do  you  know?  " 

"  Buy  Redding,"  said  Golightly  softly,  with  a  con 
fidential  flutter  of  the  near  eyelid. 

"  You're  'way  behind.  I  know  something  better 
than  that.  Come  around  next  week." 

He  left  Golightly  smiling  incredulously  and  ambled 


80  MAKING  MONEY 

slowly  through  the  motley  group  of  New  Street,  that 
tragic  ante-room  to  Wall  Street,  where  fallen  kings 
of  finance  retell  the  glories  of  the  past  and  wager  a 
few  miserable  dollars  on  a  fugitive  whisper. 

"If  they  only  knew  what  I  know,"  he  said  to  him 
self,  smiling  as  he  passed  on  in  confident  youth, 
through  these  wearied  old  men  who  in  their  misfor 
tune  still  preferred  to  be  last  in  the  Street  if  only  to  be 
near  Rome.  At  the  offices,  high  on  Exchange  Place, 
looking  down  on  the  huddled  group  of  the  curb  below 
in  sheepskins  and  mufflers,  flinging  fingered  signals  in 
the  air  to  waiting  figures  in  windows  above,  he  found 
a  new  order  from  Roscoe  Marsh  and  hurriedly  had 
it  executed.  He  felt  like  calling  up  all  his  friends 
and  asking  them  to  follow  his  lead  blindly. 

He  wanted  every  one  to  be  making  money  as  easily 
as  he  could.  Before  the  market  closed  Indiana  Smel 
ter  receded  to  1055/2  and  he  felt  as  though  some  one 
had  bodily  lifted  $500  from  his  pocket.  Still  he  had 
made  a  thousand  dollars  for  the  day.  He  caught  the 
subway  with  the  crowd  of  stockbrokers  who  came 
romping  out  of  the  stock  exchange  like  released 
schoolboys  after  the  day's  tension,  pommeling  and 
shoving  each  other  with  released  glee.  His  first  ac 
tion  was  to  turn  to  the  financial  columns  of  his  news 
paper,  to  make  sure  there  had  been  no  error,  to  see 
in  cold  print  that  he  had  actually  made  no  mistake. 
During  the  week  Indiana  Smelter  climbed  irregularly 
to  in/4,  broke  three  points,  and  ended  at  109  amid 
a  sudden  concentration  of  public  interest. 

On  Saturday,  when  he  came  back  to  his  blazing 
windows  in  the  mellow  half-lights  of  the  court,  pre 
paratory  to  dressing  for  a  party  in  the  wake  of  Fred 


UNDER  THE  TICKER'S  TYRANNY      81 

DeLancy,  he  took  the  flight  two  steps  at  a  time,  burst 
ing  with  the  need  of  pouring  out  his  tale  of  good 
fortune  to  responsive  ears.  He  found  only  George 
Granning,  snug  in  the  big  armchair,  sunk  in  the 
beatific  contemplation  of  an  immense  ledger. 

"  What  the  deuce  are  you  grinning  at,  you  old 
rhinoceros  ?  "  said  Bojo,  stopping  surprised. 

"  I'm  casting  up  accounts,"  said  Granning.  "  I'm 
twelve  hundred  and  forty-two  dollars  ahead  of  the 
game.  To-morrow  you  can  buy  me  my  first  bond 
and  make  me  a  capitalist.  Bojo,  congratulate  .me. 
I've  got  my  raise  —  forty  a  week  from  now  on  —  as 
sistant  superintendent!  What  do  you  think  of 
that?*' 

"  No !  "  exclaimed  Bojo,  who  had  been  dreaming 
in  hundreds  of  thousands.  He  shook  hands  with  all 
the  enthusiasm  he  could  force.  Then  a  genuine  pity 
seized  him  for  the  inequalities  of  opportunity.  He 
seized  a  chair  and  drew  it  excitedly  near  his  friend. 
"  Granny,  listen  to  me.  Do  you  know  what  I  have 
made  in  ten  days?  Almost  five  thousand  dollars! 
Now  you  know  nothing  in  this  world  would  let  me 
get  you  in  wrong,  unless  I  knew.  Well,  Granny,  I 
know!  I'll  guarantee  you  —  do  you  understand  — 
that  if  you'll  let  me  take  your  thousand  and  invest 
it  as  I  want,  I'll  double  your  capital  in  a  month." 

"  Thank  you,  no,"  said  Granning  in  a  way  that  ad 
mitted  no  discussion.  "  The  gilt-edged  kind  is  my 
ambition.  Look  here,  how  much  money  have  you 
put  up?" 

"  Only  twenty  thousand." 

"  Then  give  me  the  rest  and  let  me  bury  it  for 
you." 


82  MAKING  MONEY 

"  I  tell  you  I  can  sell  it  now  and  make  $4500. 
What  do  you  say  to  that?  " 

"  I'm  damned  sorry  to  hear  it." 

"  You're  a  nice  friend." 

"  Lecturing  isn't  my  strong  point,"  said  Granning 
imperturbably,  "  but  since  you  insist,  the  first  lesson 
in  life  to  my  mind  is  a  wholesome  respect  for  the 
difficulty  of  making  money." 

'  You  act  as  though  you  think  I've  robbed  some  old 
widow,  you  anarchist !  " 

"  Twelve  times  30  is  360,  add  12  times  150  times 
30,"  said  Granning,  taking  up  his  pencil. 

"  What  the  deuce  are  you  figuring  out?  " 

"  I'm  calculating  that  at  the  rate  I'm  living  I  can 
buy  another  bond  in  about  ten  and  three  quarter 
months,"  said  Granning  blissfully. 

"  Oh,  go  to  the  devil,"  said  Bojo,  retreating  into  his 
room. 

As  he  started  to  dress  for  the  evening  he  began  to 
moralize,  glancing  out  at  Granning,  who  continued 
his  figuring,  a  picture  of  rugged  happiness. 

"  Suppose  he's  thinking  of  that  forty-five  dollar 
a  year  income  now,"  thought  Bojo,  who  began  to  in 
dulge  in  many  worldly  speculations  of  which  he  would 
have  been  incapable  three  months  before.  After  all, 
if  some  people  only  knew  it,  it  was  just  as  easy  to 
make  a  hundred  thousand  as  a  thousand.  All  it  re 
quired  was  to  recognize  that  the  world  was  unequal 
and  always  would  remain  unequal,  and  toward  the  top 
of  society,  when  one  had  the  opportunity  of  course, 
it  was  all  a  question  of  knowledge  and  influence. 

"  Poor  old  Granny,"  he  said,  shaking  his  head. 
"  In  four  years  I'll  be  worth  a  million  and  he'll  be 


UNDER  THE  TICKER'S  TYRANNY      83 

plodding  on,  working  like  a  slave,  gloating  over  a 
ten-dollar  raise."  But  as  he  was  withal  honest  in  his 
values  he  added :  "  And  the  old  fellow's  worth  ten 
times  what  I  am  too ! "  He  remembered  his  own 
raise  in  salary,  but  for  certain  reasons  determined  not 
to  risk  an  ethical  comparison. 

"  Well,  Capitalist,  good  night,"  he  said,  arrayed  in 
top  hat,  fur  coat,  and  glowing  linen. 

Granning  grunted  complacently  and  called  him  back 
as  he  was  disappearing. 

"Hi,  there!" 

"What?" 

"  Come  over  to  the  factory  with  me  some  day  and 
see  what  real  work  is." 

Bo  jo  slammed  the  door  and  went  laughing  down 
the  stairs. 

The  buying  orders  multiplied  in  Indiana  Smelter, 
the  air  was  full  of  rumors,  the  financial  columns  ac 
cepted  as  a  fact  that  the  combination  was  decided,  and 
the  stock  went  soaring  in  the  third  week,  despite  one 
day  of  horrible  uncertainty,  when  the  report  was 
spread  that  all  negotiations  were  off  and  Indiana 
Smelter  dropped  twelve  points.  When  135  was 
reached,  Bo  jo  became  bewildered.  In  less  than  a 
month  he  had  cleared  over  thirty  thousand  dollars. 
He  could  not  believe  his  own  reason.  Where  had  it 
come  from?  Did  it  actually  exist  or  would  he  wake 
up  some  morning  and  find  it  evaporated? 

The  spinning  tack-tack  of  the  ticker  was  always  in 
his  ears.  At  night  when  he  started  to  go  to  sleep, 
the  room  was  always  full  of  diabolical  instruments, 
and  great  curling  streams  of  thin  paper  fell  over  his 


84  MAKING  MONEY 

bed  and  Indiana  Smelter  was  kiting  up  into  impos 
sible  figures  or  abruptly  crumbling  to  nothing.  One 
morning  the  necessity  of  actually  holding  in  his  own 
hands  these  enormous  sums  which  he  had  been  in 
credulously  contemplating  all  these  weeks  was  so  im 
perious  that  he  sold  out  as  the  stock  reached  138^4. 

For  a  day  a  feeling  of  sublime  liberation  came  to 
him,  as  though  the  clicking  tyranny  were  forever 
vanished  from  his  ears.  In  his  pocket  was  certainty, 
incredible  but  tangible,  a  check  to  his  order  for  over 
thirty-three  thousand  dollars.  When  once  this  cer 
tainty  had  impressed  itself  upon  him  he  had  a  quick 
revulsion.  It  seemed  to  him  that  what  he  had  done 
was  grossly  immoral,  as  though  he  had  thrown  his 
money  on  a  gambling  table  and  won  fabulously  with 
a  beginner's  luck.  Some  providence  must  have  pro 
tected  him,  but  he  resolved  firmly  never  to  repeat  the 
test. 

He  informed  Granny  of  this  decision,  admitting 
frankly  all  the  appetite  for  gain,  the  reckless,  danger 
ous  excitement  it  had  roused  in  him.  He  spoke  with 
such  profound  conviction,  being  for  the  moment  con 
vinced  himself,  that  Granny's  skepticism  was  con 
quered,  and  they  shook  hands  upon  Bojo's  sudden  en 
lightenment. 

But  the  next  day,  when  he  had  gone  up  to  the 
Drakes'  and  exhibited  the  check  for  the  delectation 
of  Doris,  his  good  intentions  began  to  waver  in  the 
flush  of  triumph. 

"  Now,  aren't  you  glad  you  listened  to  a  wise  little 
person  who  is  going  to  make  your  fortune?  "  she  said, 
thrilled  at  the  sight  of  the  check. 


UNDER  THE  TICKER'S  TYRANNY       85 

"  Who  gave  you  the  tip,  Doris?  "  he  said  uneasily. 
"  You  can  tell  me  now." 

"  Ask  me  no  questions  — " 

"  A  man  or  a  woman  ?  "  he  persisted,  seeking  a 
subterfuge,  for  the  thought  of  asking  pointblank  if 
he  owed  his  fortune  to  Boskirk  was  repugnant. 

She  hesitated  a  moment,  divining  his  qualms. 

"  Promise  to  ask  no  more  questions." 

"If  you'll  tell  me." 

"  A  woman,  then." 

He  pretended  to  himself  a  great  satisfaction,  im 
mensely  relieved  in  his  pride,  willing  to  be  convinced. 
Dan  Drake  came  in  and  Doris,  glad  of  the  interrup 
tion,  displayed  the  check  in  triumph. 

"  So  that's  it,  is  it  ?  "  said  Drake,  glancing  up  at 
Bojo,  who  looked  sheepishly  happy.  And  assuming 
an  angry  air,  he  caught  Doris  by  the  ear.  "  A  traitor 
in  my  own  household,  eh  ?  " 

"What  do  you  mean?"  she  said,  defending  her 
self. 

"  I  mean  the  next  time  you  wheedle  such  inside  in 
formation  out,  just  remember  you've  got  a  daddy." 

"  Now,  Dad,  don't  be  horrid  and  take  away  all  my 
fun.  Isn't  it  glorious !  " 

"  Very,"  said  Drake  with  a  grimace.  "  I  congrat 
ulate  you,  young  scamps.  Your  getting  in  and 
spreading  the  good  news  among  the  bosom  friends  — " 
he  glanced  at  Bojo,  who  flushed  — "  cost  me  a  couple 
of  hundred  thousand  more  than  I  intended  to  pay. 
I  guess,  young  man,  it'll  be  cheaper  for  me  to  have  you 
inside  my  office  than  out ! " 

"  I  didn't  realize,  sir  — " 


86  MAKING  MONEY 

"  No  reason  you  should,  but  I  want  to  tell  you 
and  your  General  Manager  so  that  you  won't  get  any 
mistaken  ideas  of  your  Napoleonic  talents,  that  there 
was  a  moment  ten  days  ago  when  the  whole  com 
bination  came  near  a  cropper,  wherever  you  got  your 
information."  He  stopped,  looked  at  his  daughter 
severely,  and  said :  "  By  the  way,  where  did  you  get 
your  information,  young  lady?" 

Doris  laughed  mischievously,  not  at  all  deceived  by 
his  assumed  anger. 

"  I  have  my  own  sources  of  information,"  she  said, 
imitating  his  manner. 

The  father  looked  at  her  shrewdly,  amused  at  the 
intrigue  he  divined. 

"  Well,  this  is  my  guess  — " 

But  Doris,  flinging  herself,  laughing,  at  him,  closed 
his  lips  with  her  pretty  hand. 

"  She  used  Boskirk  to  help  me,"  thought  Bojo,  per 
ceiving  her  start  of  fear  and  the  shrewd  smile  on 
the  face  of  the  father. 

He  did  not  pursue  the  matter,  but  the  conviction 
remained  with  him. 

Despite  his  new-found  resolutions  he  was  surprised 
to  find  that  the  obsession  of  the  ticker  still  held  him. 
With  the  announcement  of  the  completion  of  the 
Smelter  merger,  Indiana  Smelter  rose  as  high  as 
142^4,  and  the  thought  of  these  thousands  which  he 
might  have  had  as  easily  as  not  began  to  annoy  him. 
He  forgot  that  he  had  condemned  speculation  in  the 
contemplation  of  what  might  have  been. 

Looking  back,  it  seemed  to  him.  that  what  he  had 
made  was  ridiculously  small.  If  he  had  played  the 
stock  as  other  resolute  spirits  conducting  such  cam- 


UNDER  THE  TICKER'S  TYRANNY       87 

paigns  for  fortune,  he  should  have  thrown  the  rest 
of  his  capital  behind  the  venture  once  he  was  playing 
on  velvet.  He  figured  out  a  dozen  ways  by  which 
he  might  have  achieved  a  master  stroke  and  trebled, 
even  quadrupled,  his  profits,  and  the  more  his  mind 
dwelt  upon  it  the  more  eager  he  became  to  embark 
into  a  fresh  venture.  Dan  Drake  had  hinted  at  tak 
ing  him  into  his  office.  He  began  to  long  for  the 
time  when  the  proposition  would  be  again  offered  to 
him,  to  accept,  to  be  privileged  to  play  the  game  as 
others  played  it  —  with  marked  cards. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE   RETURN    OF    PATSIE 

DURING  this  time  Bo  jo  had  seen  much  of  life. 
Marsh  was  too  busily  occupied  in  the  detailed 
exploration  of  the  machinery  and  organization  of  his 
paper  to  be  often  available,  and  Bojo's  time  was  pretty 
evenly  divided  between  the  formal  evenings  in  Doris's 
set  and  the  excursions  with  Fred  DeLancy  into  re 
gions  not  quite  so  orthodox.  He  began  to  see  a  good 
deal  behind  the  scenes,  to  marvel  at  the  unbending 
of  big  men  of  a  certain  suddenly  enriched  type,  at 
their  gullibility  and  curious  vanities  of  display.  He 
himself  had  an  innate  love  of  refinement  and  an 
olden  touch  of  chivalry  in  his  attitude  toward  women, 
and  went  through  what  he  saw  without  more  harm 
than  disillusionment,  wiser  for  the  lesson. 

To  his  surprise  he  found  that  what  DeLancy  had 
estimated  of  his  social  values  was  quite  true.  Fred 
was  in  great  demand  at  quiet  dances  in  discreet 
salons  at  Tenafly's  and  Lazare's,  where  curious  ele 
ments  combined  to  distract  the  adventurer,  rich  at 
forty-five,  who,  after  a  life  of  Spartan  routine,  awoke 
to  the  call  of  pleasure  and  curiosity  at  an  age  when 
other  men  have  solved  their  attitude.  Fred  was 
looked  upon  as  a  sort  of  enfant  gate  to  be  rewarded 
after  a  gay  night  with  an  easily  tossed  off  order  for 
a  thousand  shares  of  this  or  that  to  make  his  com 
mission.  It  did  not  take  Bojo  long  to  perceive  the 

88 


THE  RETURN  OF  PATSIE  89 

inherent  weakness  in  DeLancy's  lovable  but  pleasure- 
running  character,  nor  to  speculate  upon  his  future 
with  some  apprehension,  despite  all  Fred's  protesta 
tions  that  he  was  shrewd  as  they  are  made,  and  jolly 
well  alive  to  the  main  chance  every  minute  of  the 
day. 

Bojo  had  been  admitted  far  enough  into  his  confi 
dence  to  know  that  there  was  already  some  one  in 
the  practical  background,  a  Miss  Gladys  Stone,  finan 
cially  a  prize  who  had  been  caught  with  the  volatile 
gaiety  and  amusing  tricks  of  Fred  DeLancy.  De- 
Lancy  in  fact,  in  moments  of  serious  intimacy,  openly 
avowed  his  intention  of  settling  down  within  a  year 
or  two  at  the  most,  and  Bojo,  with  the  memory  of 
riotous  nights  from  which  tie  had  with  difficulty 
extracted  the  popular  Fred,  owned  to  himself  that  tire 
sooner  this  occurred  the  better  he  would  be  suited. 

He  had  met  Gladys  Stone  once  when  he  had  dropped 
in  on  Doris,  and  he  had  a  blurred  recollection  of  a 
thin,  blond  girl,  who  giggled  and  chattered  a  great 
deal  and  spoke  several  times  of  being  bored  by  this 
or  that,  by  the  opera  where  there  was  nothing  new, 
by  dinner  parties  where  it  was  such  a  bore  to  talk 
bridge,  by  Palm  Beach,  which  was  getting  to  be  a 
bore  because  cheaper  hotels  had  gone  up  and  every 
one  was  being  let  in,  but  who  would  go  off  into  peals 
of  laughter  the  moment  Fred  DeLancy  struck  a  chord 
on  the  piano  and  imitated  a  German  ballade. 

"  Gladys  is  a  good  soul  at  bottom.  She's  crazy 
about  Fred  and  he  can  marry  her  any  day  he  wants 
her,"  said  Doris,  sitting  in  judgment. 

"  Do  you  think  it  would  turn  out  well  ?  "  he  said 
doubtfully. 


90  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Why  not?  Gladys  hasn't  a  thought  in  her  head. 
She'll  be  a  splendid  audience  for  Fred.  He  isn't  the 
sort  of  a  person  ever  to  fall  desperately  in  love." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Bojo,  with  an 
uneasy  recollection  of  a  certain  alluring  but  rather 
obvious  little  actress,  respectable  but  entirely  too  cal 
culating  to  his  way  of  thinking,  whom  Fred  had  been 
seeing  entirely  too  much. 

"  Nonsense !  That  sort  of  person  is  always  think 
ing  of  the  crowd.  Besides  Gladys  is  too  stupid  to  be 
jealous.  It's  a  splendid  match.  She'll  get  a  husband 
that'll  save  her  house  from  being  a  bore,  and  he'll 
get  a  pile  of  money :  just  what  each  needs." 

He  saw  Doris  three  or  four  times  a  week.  She 
had  become  a  very  busy  lady,  constantly  complaining 
of  the  fatigues  of  a  social  season.  Fred  DeLancy, 
who,  with  Marsh,  had  been  admitted  to  intimacy, 
made  fun  of  her  to  her  face  in  his  impudent  way,  pre 
tending  a  deep  solicitude  for  the  overburdened  rich. 

"  But  it's  true,"  said  Doris  indignantly.  "  I 
haven't  a  minute  to  myself.  I'm  going  from  morn 
ing  to  night.  You  haven't  an  idea  how  exacting  our 
lives  are." 

"  Tell  me,"  said  DeLancy,  assuming  a  countenance 
of  commiseration,  while  Bojo  laughed. 

"  Horrid  beast !  "  said  Doris,  pouting.  "  And  then 
there's  charity ;  you've  no  idea  how  much  time  charity 
takes.  I'm  on  three  committees  and  we  have  to  meet 
once  a  week  for  luncheon.  Then  I'm  in  the  show 
for  the  benefit  of  some  hospital  or  other,  and  now 
they  want  us  to  come  to  morning  rehearsals.  Then 
there's  the  afternoon  bridge  class  until  four,  and  half 
a  dozen  teas  to  go  through,  and  back  to  be  dressed 


THE  RETURN  OF  PATSIE  91 

and  curled  and  start  out  for  dinner  and  a  dance, 
night  after  night.  And  now  there's  Dolly's  wedding 
coming  on,  and  the  dressmaker  and  the  shopping.  I 
tell  you  I'm  beginning  to  look  old  already !  " 

She  glanced  at  the  clock  and  went  off  with  a  sigh 
to  be  decked  out  for  another  social  struggle,  as  Mrs. 
Drake  entered.  The  young  men  excused  themselves. 
Bojo  never  felt  quite  comfortable  under  the  scrutiny 
of  the  mother's  menacing  lorgnette.  She  was  a  frail, 
uneasy  little  woman,  who  dressed  too  young  for  her 
age,  whose  ready  tears  had  won  down  the  opposition 
of  her  husband,  much  as  the  steady  drip  of  a  tiny 
rivulet  bores  its  way  through  granite  surfaces.  She 
did  not  approve  of  Bojo  —  a  fact  of  which  he  was 
well  aware  —  and  was  resolved  when  her  first  am 
bition  had  been  gratified  by  Dolly's  coming  marriage 
to  turn  her  forces  on  Doris. 

At  present  she  was  too  much  occupied,  for  there 
were  weak  moments  when  Dolly,  for  all  her  foreign 
education,  rose  up  in  revolt,  and  others  when  Mr. 
Drake,  incensed  at  the  cold-blooded  conduct  of  the 
pre-nuptial  business  arrangements,  had  threatened  to 
send  the  whole  pack  of  impudent  lawyers  flying. 
Patsie  had  been  packed  off  on  a  visit  to  a  cousin  after 
a  series  of  indiscretions,  culminating  in  a  demand 
to  know  from  the  Duke  what  the  French  meant  by 
a  manage  de  convenance  —  a  request  which  fell  like 
a  bombshell  in  a  sudden  silence  of  the  family  dinner. 

It  was  a  week  before  the  wedding,  as  Bojo  was 
swinging  up  the  Avenue  past  the  Park  on  his  way 
to  Doris,  that  he  suddenly  became  aware  of  a  young 
lady  in  white  fur  cap  and  black  velvets  skipping 
toward  him,  pursued  by  a  terrier  that  had  a  familiar 


92  MAKING  MONEY 

air,  while  from  an  attendant  automobile  a  tall  and 
scrawny  spinster  was  gesticulating  violently  and  un 
heeded.  The  next  moment  Patsie  had  run  up  to  him, 
her  arm  through  his,  Romp  leaning  against  him  in 
recognition,  while  she  exclaimed: 

"  Bojo,  thank  Heaven!  Save  me  from  this  awful 
woman !  " 

"What's  wrong,  what's  the  matter?"  he  said, 
laughing,  feeling  all  at  once  a  delightful  glow  at  the 
sight  of  her  snapping  eyes  and  breathless,  parted  lips. 

"  They've  brought  me  back  and  tied  a  dragon  to 
me,"  she  cried  indignantly.  "  I  won't  stand  it.  I 
won't  go  parading  up  and  down  with  a  keeper,  just 
like  an  animal  in  a  zoo.  It's  all  mother's  doings, 
and  Dolly's,  because  I  miffed  her  old  duke.  Send 
the  dragon  away,  please,  Bojo,  please." 

"  What's  her  name?  "  he  said,  with  an  eye  to  the 
approaching  car. 

"  Mile,  du  Something  or  other  —  how  do  I  know  ?  " 

The  frantic  companion  now  bearing  down,  with 
the  chauffeur  set  to  a  grin,  Bojo  explained  his  right 
to  act  as  Miss  Drina's  escort,  and  the  matter  was 
adjusted  by  the  demoiselle  de  compagnie  promising 
to  keep  a  block  behind  until  they  neared  home. 

Patsie  waxed  indignant.  "  Wait  till  I  get  hold  of 
Dad!  I'll  fix  her!  The  idea!  I'm  eighteen  — I 
guess  I  can  take  care  of  myself.  I  say,  let's  give 
them  the  slip.  No  ?  Oh,  dear,  it  would  be  such  fun. 
I'm  crazy  to  slip  off  and  get  some  skating.  What 
do  you  think?  Can't  even  do  that.  Too  vulgar!" 

"  What  did  you  say  to  the  Duke  that  raised  such 
a  row?"  said  Bojo,  pleasantly  conscious  of  the  light 
weight  on  his  arm. 


THE  RETURN  OF  PATSIE  93 

"  Nothing  at  all,"  said  Patsie,  with  an  innocent 
face ;  but  there  was  a  twinkle  in  the  eyes.  "  I  simply 
asked  what  this  manage  de  convenance  was  I  heard 
them  all  talking  about,  and  when  he  started  in  to 
make  some  long-winded  speech  I  cut  in  and  asked 
him  if  it  wasn't  when  people  didn't  love  each  other 
but  married  to  pay  the  bills.  Then  every  one  talked 
out  loud  and  mother  looked  at  me  through  her  tele 
scope." 

"  You  knew,  of  course,"  said  Bo  jo  reprovingly. 

Drina  laughed  a  guilty  laugh. 

"  I  don't  think  Dolly  wants  to  marry  him  a  bit,"  she 
declared.  "  It's  all  mother.  Catch  me  marrying  like 
that." 

"  And  how  are  you  going  to  marry  ?  " 

"  When  I  marry,  it'll  be  because  I'm  so  doggoned 
in  love  I'd  be  sitting  out  on  the  top  step  waiting  for 
him  to  come  round.  If  I  were  engaged  to  a  man 
I'd  hook  him  tight  and  I  wouldn't  let  go  of  him 
either,  no  matter  who  was  .looking  on.  What  sort 
of  a  love  is  it  when  you  sit  six  feet  apart  and  try 
to  look  bored  when  some  one  rattles  a  door !  " 

"  Patsie  —  you're  very  romantic,  I'm  afraid." 

She  nodded  her  head  energetically,  rattling  on: 
"  Moonlight,  shifting  clouds,  heavily  scented  flowers, 
and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  Never  mind,  they'd  better 
look  out.  I'm  not  going  to  stand  this  sort  of  treat 
ment.  I'll  elope." 

"  You  wouldn't  do  that,  Patsie." 

"  Yes,  I  would.  I  say,  when  you  and  Doris  marry 
will  you  let  me  come  and. stay  with  you?  " 

"  We  certainly  will,"  he  said  enthusiastically. 

"  Then  what  are  you  waiting  for  ?  " 


94  MAKING  MONEY 

"  I'm  waiting,"  said  Bojo  dryly,  after  a  pause, 
"  until  I  have  made  enough  money  of  my  own." 

"  Good  for  you,"  she  said,  as  if  immensely  relieved. 
"  I  knew  you  were  that  sort." 

"And  when  are  you  coming  out?"  he  asked,  to 
turn  the  conversation. 

"  The  night  before  the  wedding.     Isn't  it  awful?  " 

'  You'll  have  lots  of  men  hanging  about  you  — 
crazy  about  you,"  he  said  abruptly. 

"Pooh!" 

"  Never  mind,  I  shall  watch  over  you  carefully 
and  keep  the  wrong  ones  away." 

"Will  you?" 

He  nodded,  looking  into  her  eyes. 

"  Good  for  you.     I'll  come  to  you  for  advice." 

They  were  at  the  house,  the  lemon  livery  of  the 
footmen  showing  behind  the  glass  doors. 

"  I  say,"  said  Patsie,  with  a  sudden  mischievous 
smile,  "  meet  me  at  the  corner  to-morrow  at  four  and 
we'll  go  off  skating." 

He  shook  his  head  sternly. 

"Bojo,  please  —  just  for  a  lark!" 

"  I  will  call  for  you  in  a  proper  social  manner  per 
haps." 

"  Will  Doris  have  to  be  along?  "  she  asked  thought 
fully. 

"  I  shall  of  course  ask  Doris." 

"  On  second  thoughts,  no,  thank  you.  I  think  I 
shall  go  to  my  dressmaker's,"  she  said,  with  a  perfect 
imitation  of  his  formal  tone  —  and  disappeared  with 
a  final  burst  of  laughter. 

He  went  in  to  see  Doris  with  a  sudden  determina- 


THE  RETURN  OF  PATSIE  95 

tion  to  clear  up  certain  matters  which  had  been  on 
his  conscience.  As  luck  would  have  it,  as  he  entered 
the  great  anteroom  Mr.  James  Boskirk  was  departing. 
He  was  a  painstaking,  rather  obvious  young  man  of 
irreproachable  industry  and  habits,  a  little  over  seri 
ous,  rated  already  as  one  of  the  "  solid  "  young  men 
of  the  younger  generation  of  financiers,  who  made 
no  secret  of  the  fact  that  he  had  arrived  at  a  delib 
erate  decision  to  invite  Miss  Doris  Drake  into  the 
new  firm  which  he  had  determined  to  found  for  the 
establishment  of  his  home  and  the  perpetuation  of 
his  name. 

It  seemed  to  Bo  jo,  in  the  perfunctory  greeting 
which  they  exchanged  as  civilized  savages,  that 
there  was  a  look  of  derogatory  accusation  in  Bos- 
kirk's  eyes,  and,  infuriated,  he  determined  to  bring- 
up  the  subject  of  Indiana  Smelter  again  and  force 
the  truth  from  Doris. 

He  came  in  with  a  well-assumed  air  of  amusement, 
adopting  a  sarcastic  tone,  which  he  knew  she  partic 
ularly  dreaded. 

"  See  here,  Miss  General  Manager,  this'll  never 
do,"  he  said  lightly.  "  I  thought  you  were  cleverer 
than  that." 

"  What  do  you  mean?  "  she  said,  instantly  scenting 
danger. 

"  Letting  your  visits  overlap.  I  only  hope  you  had 
time  to  manage  all  Mr.  Boskirk's  affairs.  Only,  for 
Heaven's  sake,  Doris,  now  that  you've  got  him  in 
hand,  get  him  to  change  his  style  of  collar  and 
cuffs.  He  looks  like  the  head  of  an  undertakers' 
trust." 

The  idea  that  he  might  be  jealous  pleased  her. 


96  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Poor  Mr.  Boskirk,"  she  said,  smiling.  "  He's  a 
very  straightforward,  simple  fellow." 

"  Very  simple,"  he  said  dryly.  "  Well,  what  more 
information  has  he  been  giving  you?" 

"  He  does  not  give  me  any  information." 

"  You  know  perfectly  well,  Doris,  that  he  gave  you 
the  tip  on  Indiana  Smelter,"  he  said  furiously,  "  and 
that  you  denied  because  you  knew  I  would  never  have 
approved." 

"  You  are  perfectly  horrid,  Bojo,"  she  said,  going 
to  the  fireplace  and  stirring  up  the  logs.  "  I  don't 
care  to  discuss  it  with  you." 

"  I'm  sorry,"  he  said,  "  but  you've  hurt  my  pride." 

"How?" 

"  Good  heavens,  can't  you  see !  Haven't  you 
women  any  sense  of  fitness?  Don't  you  know  that 
some  things  are  done  and  some  things  are  not  done  ?  " 

She  came  to  him  contritely  and  put  her  hands  on 
his  shoulders. 

"  Bojo,  why  do  you  reproach  me?  Because  I  am 
only  thinking  of  your  success,  all  the  time,  every  day? 
Is  that  what  you  are  angry  about  ?  " 

He  felt  like  blurting  out  that  there  was  something 
in  that  too,  that  he  wanted  the  privilege  of  feeling 
that  he  was  winning  his  own  way ;  but  instead  he  said : 

"  So  it  was  Boskirk." 

She  looked  at  him,  hesitated,  and  answered: 

"  No,  it  wasn't.  But  if  it  had  been  why  should 
you  hold  it  against  me?  Why  don't  you  want  me 
to  help  ?  —  for  you  don't !  " 

He  resolved  to  be  blunt. 

"If  you  would  only  do  something  that  is  not  rea 
sonable,  not  calculated,  Doris!  But  everything  you 


THE  RETURN  OF  PATSIE  97 

do  is  so  well  considered.  You  didn't  use  to  be  this 
way.  I  can't  help  thinking  you  care  more  about  your 
life  in  society  than  you  do  me.  It's  the  worldly  part 
of  you  I'm  afraid  about." 

She  looked  into  his  eyes  steadily  a  moment  and 
then  turned  her  head  away  and  nodded,  smiling  in 
assent. 

"  Heavens,  Doris,  if  you  want  to  do  like  Dolly, 
if  you  want  a  position,  or  a  title,  say  so  and  let's  be 
honest." 

"  But  I  don't  —  I  don't,"  she  cried  impetuously. 
"  You  don't  know  how  I  have  fought  — "  she  stopped, 
not  wishing  to  mention  her  mother  and,  lifting  her 
glance  to  him  anxiously,  said :  "  Bojo,  what  do  you 
want  me  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  want  you  to  do  something  uncalculated,"  he 
burst  out  — "  mad,  impulsive,  as  persons  do  who  are 
wild  in  love  with  each  other.  I  want  you  to  marry 
me  now." 

"Now!" 

"  Listen :  With  what  I've  got  and  my  salary  I  can 
scrape  up  ten  thousand  —  no,  don't  spoil  it  —  I  don't 
want  any  money  from  you.  Will  you  take  your 
chances  and  marry  me  on  my  own  basis  now  ?  " 

She  caught  her  breath  and  finally  said,  marking 
each  word: 

"  Yes  —  I  —  will  —  marry  —  you  —  now !  " 

He  burst  out  laughing  at  the  look  of  terror  in  her 
eyes  at  the  thought  of  facing  life  on  ten  thousand  a 
year. 

"  Don't  worry,  Doris,"  he  said,  taking  her  in  his 
arms.  "  I  wouldn't  be  so  cruel.  I  only  wanted  to 
hear  you  say  it." 


98  MAKING  MONEY 

"  But  I  did  —  I  will  —  if  you  ask  it,"  she  said 
quickly. 

He  shook  his  head. 

"If  you'd  only  said  it  differently.  Don't  mind 
me  —  I'm  an  idiot  —  and  you  don't  understand." 

What  he  meant  was  that  he  was  an  idiot,  when  he 
was  getting  so  much  that  other  men  coveted,  to  insist 
on  what  was  not  in  her  charming,  facile  self  to  give 
him.  An  hour  later,  after  an  interview  with  Daniel 
Drake,  he  was  ready  to  wonder  what  had  made  him 
flare  up  so  quickly  —  Boskirk's  presence  perhaps,  or 
something  impulsive  which  had  awakened  within  him 
when  Drina  had  flushed  while  describing  her  distinct 
ideas  upon  the  subject  of  the  sentiments. 

But  a  new  exhilaration  effectively  drove  away  all 
other  emotions  —  the  delirious  appetite  for  gain 
which  had  come  irresistibly  and  tyrannically  into  his 
life  with  the  dramatic  intensity  of  his  first  specula 
tion.  In  the  interim  in  Daniel  Drake's  library,  with 
Doris  perched  excitedly  on  the  arm  of  his  chair,  sev 
eral  things  had  been  decided.  A  great  operation  was 
under  way  which  promised  an  unusual  profit.  Bo  jo 
was  to  place  $50,000  in  the  pool  which  was  to  be  used 
to  operate  in  the  stocks  of  a  certain  Southern  railroad 
long  suspected  to  be  on  the  verge  of  a  receivership, 
at  the  end  of  which  campaign  he  was  to  enter  Mr. 
Drake's  service  in  the  role  of  a  private  secretary. 

Meanwhile  he  was  to  continue  in  the  employ  of 
Hauk,  Flaspoller  and  Forshay,  the  better  to  figure  in 
the  mixed  scheme  of  manipulation  which  wrould  be 
necessary.  He  was  so  seized  with  the  drama  of  the 
opportunity,  so  keen  over  the  thought  of  being  once 


THE  RETURN  OF  PATSIE  99 

more  a  part  of  all  the  whirling,  hurtling  machinery 
of  speculation  that  he  did  not  remember  even  for  a 
passing  thought,  the  horror  which  had  come  over  him 
at  his  first  incredible  success. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE    WEDDING   BALL 

wedding  of  Miss  Dolly  Drake  to  the  Duke  of 
i.  Polin-Crecy  was  the  event  of  the  season.  It  was 
preceded  by  a  ball  which  marked  the  definite  surren 
der  of  the  last  recalcitrant  members  of  New  York  so 
ciety  to  the  ambitions  of  Mrs.  Drake.  Such  events 
have  a  more  or  less  public  quality,  like  a  perform 
ance  for  charity  or  a  private  view  at  an  important 
auction.  Every  one  who  could  wheedle  an  invitation 
by  hook  or  crook,  arrived  with  the  rolling  crowd  that 
blocked  the  avenue  and  side  streets  and  necessitated 
a  special  detachment  of  the  police  to  prevent  the  mob 
of  enthusiastic  democrats  from  precipitating  them 
selves  on  the  ducal  carriage  and  tearing  the  ducal 
garments  in  shreds  in  the  quest  of  souvenirs. 

The  three  young  men  from  Ali  Baba  Court  ar 
rived  together,  abandoning  their  taxicab  and  forcing 
their  way  on  foot  to  the  front.  Marsh,  who  was  al 
ways  moved  to  sarcasm  by  such  occasions,  kept  up 
a  running  comment. 

"  Marvelous  exhibition !  Every  one  who's  gun 
ning  for  Drake  is  here  to-night.  There's  old  Borne- 
man.  He's  been  laying  for  a  chance  to  catch  Daniel 
D.  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  market  ever  since  Drake 
trimmed  him  in  a  wheat  corner  in  Chicago.  By  Jove, 
the  Fontaines  and  the  Gunthers.  They're  going  to 

100 


THE  WEDDING  BALL  101 

this  as  to  a  circus.  Why  the  deuce  didn't  the  cards 
read  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Drake  invite  you  to  meet 
their  enemies ! " 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Bojo,  laughing.  "  It's  Mrs. 
Drake's  night  —  she'll  be  in  her  glory,  you  can  bet." 

"  Oh,  you'll  be  as  bad  as  the  rest,"  said  Marsh,  who 
spoke  his  mind.  "  Tom,  you're  doomed.  I  can  see 
that.  You've  got  a  feminine  will  to  contend  with, 
so  make  your  mind  up  to  the  inevitable.  There's 
Haggerdy's  party  now  —  every  bandit  in  Wall 
Street'll  be  here  figuring  up  how  they  can  get  at 
their  host.  Well,  Bojo,  you're  lost  to  us  already." 

"How  so?" 

"  In  this  game,  you  never  pay  attention  to  your 
friends  —  you've  got  to  entertain  those  who  dislike 
you,  to  make  sure  they'll  have  to  invite  you  to  some 
function  or  other  where  everybody  must  be  seen. 
Well,  I  know  what  I'll  do,  I'll  get  hold  of  the  youngest 
sister,  who  is  a  trump,  and  play  around  with  her." 

Bojo  looked  at  him  uneasily;  even  this  casual  in 
terest  in  Patsie  affected  him  disagreeably.  DeLancy 
had  deserted  them  to  rush  over  to  the  assistance  of 
the  Stones,  who  were  just  arriving. 

"  I  hope  he  gets  her,"  said  Marsh,  studying  the 
blond  profile  of  Miss  Gladys  Stone. 

"  I  believe  there's  some  sort  of  an  understanding." 

"  The  sooner  the  better  —  for  Freddie,"  said 
Marsh,  with  a  shake  of  his  head.  "  The  trouble  with 
Fred  is  he  thinks  he's  a  cold  thinking  machine,  and 
he's  putty  in  the  hands  of  any  woman  who  comes 
along." 

"  I'm  worried  about  a  certain  person  myself,"  said 
Bojo. 


102  MAKING  MONEY 

But  at  this  moment  Thornton,  one  of  Mr.  Drake's 
secretaries,  touched  him  on  the  arm. 

"  Will  you  please  come  to  the  library,  Mr. 
Crocker?  Mr.  Drake  has  been  asking  for  you  to 
witness  some  papers." 

In  the  library  off  in  a  quiet  wing  he  found  a  party 
of  five  gathered  about  the  table  de'sk,  lawyers  verify 
ing  the  securities  for  the  marriage  settlement,  Maitre 
Vondrin,  a  stubby,  black-bearded  Frenchman  im 
ported  for  the  occasion,  coldly  incredulous  and 
suavely  insistent,  the  storm  center  of  an  excited  group 
who  had  been  arguing  since  dinner.  Drake,  by  the 
fireplace,  was  pacing  up  and  down,  swearing  audibly. 

"  Is  the  gentleman  now  quite  satisfied  ?  "  he  said 
angrily. 

Maitre  Vondrin  smiled  in  the  affirmative. 

Drake  sat  down  at  the  table  with  the  gesture  of 
brushing  away  a  swarm  of  flies  and  signed  his  name 
to  a  document  that  was  placed  before  him,  nodding 
to  Bo  jo  to  add  bis  signature  as  a  witness. 

"  Pity  some  of  our  corporations  couldn't  employ 
Vondrin,"  said  Drake,  rising  angrily.  "  There 
wouldn't  be  enough  money  left  to  keep  a  savings 
bank." 

Other  signatures  were  attached  and  the  party  broke 
up,  Maitre  Vondrin,  punctilious  and  unruffled,  bow 
ing  to  the  master  of  the  house  and  departing  with  the 
rest. 

Drake's  anger  immediately  burst  forth. 

"  Cussed  little  sharper !  He  was  keen  enough  to 
save  this  until  now.  By  heavens,  if  he'd  sprung  these 
tactics  on  me  a  week  ago,  his  little  Duke  could  have 
gone  home  on  a  borrowed  ticket." 


THE  WEDDING  BALL  103 

Bo  jo  learned  afterward  that  the  lawyer  for  the 
noble  family  had  refused  to  take  Drake's  word  on 
a  single  item  of  the  transfer  of  property,  insisting 
on  having  every  security  placed  before  his  eyes,  per 
sonally  examining  them  all,  wrangling  over  values, 
compelling  certain  substitutes,  even  demanding  a  per 
sonal  guarantee  in  one  debated  issue  of  bonds. 

"  God  grant  she  doesn't  come  to  regret  it,"  said 
Drake,  thinking  of  his  wife.  His  anger  made  him 
careless  of  what  he  said.  "  Tom,  mark  my  words, 
if  ever  this  precious  Duke  comes  to  me  for  money  — 
as,  mark  my  words,  he  will  —  I'll  make  him  get  down 
on  his  knees  for  all  his  superciliousness,  and  turn 
somersaults  like  a  trick  dog.  Yes,  by  heaven,  I 
will!" 

Bo  jo  was  silent,  not  knowing  what  to  say,  and 
Drake  finally  perceived  it. 

"  It  isn't  Dolly's  fault,"  he  said  apologetically. 
"  She's  a  good  sort.  This  isn't  her  doing.  There 
was  a  time  when  her  mother —  Well,  I'll  say  no 
more.  Nasty  business !  Tom,  I'll  bless  the  day  when 
I  see  Doris  safe  with  you,  married  to  a  decent  Amer 
ican."  He  took  a  turn  or  two  and  said  abruptly, 
trying  to  convey  more  than  he  expressed :  "  Don't 
wait  too  long.  It's  a  bad  atmosphere,  all  this  — 
there  are  influences  —  it  isn't  fair  to  the  girl,  to 
Doris.  Money  be  damned !  I'll  see  you  never  have 
to  ask  your  wife  for  pocket  money.  No,  I  won't 
present  it  to  you.  We'll  make  it  together.  There 
are  a  lot  of  buzzards  sitting  around  here  to-night,  cal 
culating  I'm  loaded  up  to  the  brim  and  ready  for  a 
plucking.  Well,  Tom,  I'm  going  to  fool  them.  I'm 
going  to  make  them  pay  for  the  wedding." 


104  MAKING  MONEY 

The  idea  struck  him.  He  burst  out  laughing.  His 
eyes  snapped  with  a  sudden  project. 

"  Here,"  he  said,  clapping  Bo  jo  on  the  shoulder. 
"  Forget  what  you've  heard.  Go  in  and  take  a  look 
at  Doris.  She's  a  sight  for  tired  eyes."  He  held 
his  hand.  "  Are  you  willing  to  risk  your  money 
with  me  —  go  it  blind,  eh?" 

"  Every  cent  I  have,  Mr.  Drake,"  said  Bojo,  drawn 
to  him  by  the  dramatic  sympathies  the  older  man  knew 
how  to  arouse;  "only  I  don't  want  any  favors.  If 
we  lose  I  lose." 

"  We  won't  lose,"  said  Drake  and,  drawing  Bojo's 
arm  under  his,  he  added :  "  Come  on.  I've  got  to 
get  a  smile  on  my  face.  So  here  goes." 

Bojo  found  Doris  in  the  corner  of  the  ballroom 
assiduously  surrounded  by  a  black-coated  hedge  of 
young  men.  He  had  a  moment's  thrill  at  the  sight 
of  her,  radiant  and  dazzling  with  every  art  of  dress 
maker  and  hairdresser,  revealed  in  a  sinuous  arrange 
ment  of  black  chiffon  with  mysterious  sudden  sheens 
of  gold.  She  came  to  him  at  once,  expectancy  in 
her  eyes;  and  the  thought  that  this  prize  was  his, 
that  hundreds  would  watch  them  as  they  stood  to 
gether,  acknowledging  his  right,  gave  him  a  sudden 
swift  sense  of  power  and  conquest. 
•  "  I  was  with  your  father,"  he  said,  in  explanation, 
"  to  witness  some  papers.  Say,  Doris,  how  every 
woman  here  must  hate  you  to-night !  " 

"  It's  all  for  you,"  she  said,  delighted.  "  Dance 
with  me.  Tell  me  what  happened.  There's  been  a 
dreadful  row,  I  know,  for  days.  Mother  and  father 
haven't  spoken  except  in  public,  and  Dolly's  been 
moping." 


"  'Just  you    wait ;   you're   going   to   be    one   of   the   big  men 
some   day  !'  " — Page    105 


THE  WEDDING  BALL  105 

"  It  was  something  about  the  settlements.  Your 
father  was  white-hot  all  right." 

"  We  won't  have  more  than  a  round  or  two,"  she 
said.  "  I've  kept  what  I  could  for  you  —  the  supper 
dance,  of  course.  Every  one  is  here!  " 

"  I  should  say  so.  Your  mother  is  smiling  all  over. 
She  even  favored  me.  Look  out,  though,  Doris  — 
she'll  begin  on  you." 

"  Don't  worry,  Bojo,"  she  said  in  a  whisper,  with 
a  little  pressure  of  his  arm.  She  was  quite  excited 
by  the  brilliance  of  the  throng,  at  her  own  personal 
triumph  and  the  good  looks  of  her  partner.  "  I  want 
something  I  can  make  myself,  and  we'll  do  it  too. 
Just  you  wait,  you're  going  to  be  one  of  the  big  men 
one  of  these  days,  and  we'll  have  our  house  and  our 
parties  —  finer  than  this,  too !  " 

This  time  he  fell  into  her  mood,  turning  her  over 
to  another  partner  with  a  confident  smile,  exhilarated 
with  the  thought  of  little  supremacies  in  regions  of 
brilliant  lights  and  dreamy  music.  Fred  DeLancy, 
back  from  a  dance  with  Gladys  Stone,  stopped  him 
with  an  anecdote. 

"  I  say,  Bojo,  wish  you  could  have  seen  some  of 
the  old  hens  inspecting  the  palace.  You  know  Mrs. 
Orchardson,  Standard  Oil  ?  I  was  right  back  of  her 
when  she  wandered  into  some  Louis  or  other  room, 
and  what  did  she  do?  She  ran  her  thumbnail  into  a 
partition  and  whispered  to  her  neighbor :  *  Ours  is 
real  mahogany ' !  Don't  they  love  one  another, 
though?" 

By  the  buffet  groups  of  men  were  smoking,  glass 
in  hand,  Borneman  and  Haggerdy  talking  business. 
In  the  ante-chamber  where  the  great  marble  staircase 


106  MAKING  MONEY 

came  winding  down,  he  found  Patsie  at  bay  repelling 
a  group  of  admirers.  She  signaled  him  frantically. 

"  Bojo,  rescue  me!  They're  even  quoting  poetry 
to  me!" 

She  sprang  away  and  down  the  stairs  to  his  side, 
hurrying  him  off. 

"  Faster,  faster !  Isn't  there  any  place  we  can 
hide?  My  ears  are  dropping  off." 

"  Patsie,  I  never  should  have  known  you !  "  he  said, 
amazed. 

"  Well,  I'm  out ! "  she  said,  with  an  indignant 
pout.  "  How  do  you  like  me  ?  " 

She  stood  away  from  him,  a  little  malicious  delight 
in  her  eyes  at  his  bewilderment,  her  chin  saucily  tilted, 
her  profile  turned,  her  little  hands  balanced  in  the  air. 

"  This  is  the  way  the  models  pose.     Well  ?  " 

"  I  thought  you  were  a  child  — "  he  said  stupidly, 
troubled  at  the  sudden  discovery  of  the  woman. 

"Is  that  all?"  she  said,  pretending  displeasure. 

He  checked  an  impulsive  compliment  and  said  a 
little  angrily: 

"  Oh,  Patsie,  you  are  going  to  make  a  terrible 
amount  of  trouble.  I  can  see  that!  " 

"Pooh!" 

"  Yes,  and  you  like  the  mischief  you're  causing 
too.  Don't  fib!" 

"  Yes,  I  like  it,"  she  said,  nodding  her  head. 
"  Dolly  and  Doris  stared  at  me  as  if  I  were  a  ghost. 
Well,  I'll  show  them  I'm  not  such  a  savage." 

"  I  hope  you  won't  change,"  he  said. 

"  Won't  I  ?  "  she  said,  and  to  tease  him  she  con 
tinued,  "I'll  show  them!" 


THE  WEDDING  BALL  107 

He  felt  sentimentally  moved  to  give  her  a  lecture, 
but  instead  he  said,  deeply  moved: 

"  I'd  hate  to  think  of  your  being  different." 

"Oh,  really?"  she  continued  irrelevantly.  "You 
didn't  bother  your  soul  about  me  while  you  thought 
I  was  nothing  but  a  tomboy  and  a  terror !  But  now 
when  there  are  a  lot  of  black  flies  buzzing  around 
me—" 

"  Now,  Patsie,  you  know  that  isn't  true !  " 

She  relented  with  a  laugh. 

"  Do  you  really  like  me  like  this  ?  No,  don't  say 
anything  mushy.  I  see  you  do.  Oh,  dear,  I  knew 
this  old  mooney  would  find  me,"  she  said,  suddenly 
perceiving  a  plump  youngster  with  a  smirch  of  a 
mustache  bearing  down.  "  Please,  Bo  jo,  come  and 
dance  with  me  —  often." 

He  more  than  shared  the  evening  with  her,  quite 
unconscious  of  the  effect  she  had  made  on  him,  con 
stantly  following  her  in  the  confusion  of  the  dances, 
pleased  when  at  a  distance  she  saw  his  look  and 
smiled  back  at  him. 

Meanwhile,  in  the  buffet,  Haggerdy  and  Borne- 
man,  in  the  midst  of  a  group,  discussed  their  host; 
that  is,  Borneman  discussed  and  Haggerdy,  stolid  as 
a  buffalo,  with  his  great  emotionless  mask,  nodded 
occasionally. 

"  Well,  Dan's  at  the  top,"  said  Marcus  Stone. 
"  Dukes  come  high.  What  do  you  think  it  cost 
him?" 

"  Dukes  are  no  longer  a  novelty,"  said  Borneman. 
He  was  rather  out  of  place  in  this  formal  gathering, 


108  MAKING  MONEY 

having  about  him  a  curious  air  of  always  being  in  his 
shirt-sleeves.  A  long,  sliding  nose,  lips  pursed  like 
a  catfish,  every  feature  seemed  alert  and  pointed  to 
catch  the  furthest  whisper.  Stone  nodded  and  moved 
off.  Borneman  drew  Haggerdy  into  a  corner. 

"  Jim,  I  have  reason  to  believe  Drake's  overloaded," 
he  said. 

Haggerdy  scratched  his  chin,  thoughtfully,  as  much 
as  to  say,  "  quite  possible,"  and  Borneman  contin 
ued  :  "  He's  stocked  up  with  Indiana  Smelter,  and  a 
lot  of  other  things  too.  I  happen  to  know.  He's 
long  —  mighty  long  of  the  market.  A  little  short 
flurry  might  worry  him  considerable.  Now,  do  you 
know  how  I've  figured  it  ?  " 

"How?" 

"  Dan  Drake's  a  plunger,  always  was.  This  here 
duke  has  cost  him  considerable  —  a  million."  He 
glanced  at  Haggerdy.  "  Two  million  perhaps  —  and 
in  securities,  Jim;  nothing  speculative;  gilt-edged 
bonds.  That's  a  million  or  two  out  of  his  reserve  — 
do  you  get  me  ?  —  and  that's  a  lot,  when  you're  carry 
ing  a  dozen  deals  at  once." 

"Well?" 

"  Well,  Dan  Drake's  a  plunger,  remember  that ; 
he  don't  see  one  million  going  out  —  without  itching 
to  see  where  another  million's  coming  in  — " 

Haggerdy  nudged  him  quietly.  At  this  moment 
Drake  came  through  the  crowd  and  perceived  them 
in  consultation.  A  glance  at  their  attitudes  made 
him  divine  the  subject  of  their  conversation. 

"Hello,  boys,"  he  said,  coming  up;  "being  prop 
erly  attended  to?  " 

"  Dan,  that's  a  pretty  fine  duke  you've  got  there. 


THE  WEDDING  BALL  109 

Darn  sight  more  intelligent  looking  than  the  one 
Fontaine  picked  up,"  said  Borneman.  "  Dukes  are 
expensive  articles  though,  Dan.  Take  more  than  a 
wheat  corner  to  settle  up  for  this,  I  should  say." 

"  Been  thinking  so  myself,"  said  Drake  cheerily. 
"  Well,  Al,  if  I  made  up  my  mind  to  try  a  little  flyer 
—  just  to  pay  for  the  wedding,  you  understand  — 
what  would  you  recommend  ?  " 

"  What  would  /  recommend  ?  "  said  Borneman, 
startled. 

"  Exactly.  What  do  you  think  about  general  con 
ditions  ?  " 

"  My  feelings  are,"  said  Borneman,  watching  him 
warily,  "  the  market's  top-heavy.  Values  are  'way 
above  where  they  ought  to  be.  Prices  are  coming 
tumbling  sooner  or  later,  and  then,  by  golly,  it's  going 
hard  with  a  lot  of  you  fellows." 

"  You're  inclined  to  be  bearish,  eh  ?  "  said  Drake, 
as  though  struck  by  the  thought. 

"  I  most  certainly  am." 

"  Shouldn't  wonder  if  you're  right,  Al.  I've  a 
mind  to  follow  your  advice.  Sell  one  thousand 
Southern  Pacific,  one  thousand  Seaboard  Air  Line, 
one  thousand  Pennsylvania,  and  one  thousand  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans.  Just  as  a  feeler,  Al.  Per 
haps  to-morrow  I'll  call  you  up  and  increase  that. 
Can't  introduce  you  to  any  of  the  pretty  girls  —  not 
dancing?  All  right." 

Borneman  caught  his  breath  and  looked  at  Hag- 
gerdy  as  Drake  went  off.  If  there  was  one  man  he 
had  fought  persistently,  at  every  turn  biding  his  time, 
it  was  Daniel  Drake,  who  had  thus  come  to  him  with 
an  appearance  of  frankness  and  exposed  his  game. 


110  MAKING  MONEY 

"  It's  a  bluff,"  he  said  excitedly.  "  He  thinks  he 
can  fool  me.  He's  in  the  market,  but  he's  in  to  buy." 

"Think  so?"  said  Haggerdy  profoundly. 

"  Or  he  has  the  impudence  to  show  me  his  game 
thinking  I  won't  believe  him.  Anyhow,  Dan's  got 
something  started,  and  if  I  know  the  critter,  it's  some 
thing  big!" 

Haggerdy  smiled  and  scratched  his  chin. 


CHAPTER  X 
DRAKE'S  GAME 

THE  evening  was  still  at  its  height  as  Daniel  Drake 
left  Haggerdy  and  Borneman  with  their  heads 
together  puzzling  over  the  significance  of  his  selling 
orders. 

"  Let  them  crack  that  nut,"  he  said,  chuckling 
grimly.  "  Borneman  will  worry  himself  sick  for  fear 
I'll  catch  him  again."  He  looked  around  for  further 
opportunities,  anxious  to  avail  himself  of  the  seem 
ing  chance  which  had  played  so  well  into  his  plans. 
Across  the  room  through  the  shift  and  sudden  yield 
of  gay  colors  he  saw  the  low,  heavy-shouldered  figure 
of  Gunther,  the  banker,  in  conversation  with  Fon 
taine  and  Marcus  Stone.  Gunther,  the  simplest  of 
human  beings,  a  genius  of  common  sense,  had  even 
at  this  time  assumed  a  certain  legendary  quality  in 
Wall  Street,  due  to  the  possession  of  the  unhuman 
gift  of  silence,  that  had  magnified  in  the  popular 
imagination  the  traits  of  tenacity,  patience  and  sta 
bility  which  in  the  delicately  constructed  mechanism 
of  confidence  and  credit  had  made  him  an  indispen 
sable  balance  wheel,  powerful  in  his  own  right,  yet 
irresistible  in  the  intermarried  forces  of  industry  he 
could  set  in  motion.  Fontaine  was  of  the  old  landed 
aristocracy;  Stone,  a  Middle- Westerner,  floated  to 

wealth  on  the  miraculous  flood  of  oil. 

ill 


MAKING  MONEY 

Aware  that  every  conversation  would  be  noted, 
Drake  allowed  several  minutes  to  pass  before  ap 
proaching  the  group  and,  profiting  by  a  movement 
of  the  crowd,  contrived  to  carry  off  Gunther  on  the 
pretext  of  showing  him  a  new  purchase  of  Chinese 
porcelains  in  the  library.  They  remained  a  full 
twenty  minutes,  engrossed  in  the  examination  of  the 
porcelains  and  Renaissance  bronzes,  of  which  Gunther 
was  a  connoisseur,  and  returned  without  a  mention  of 
matters  financial.  But  as  Wall  Street  men  are  as 
credulous  as  children,  this  interview  made  an  immense 
impression,  for  Gunther  was  of  such  power  that  no 
broker  was  unwilling  to  concede  that  the  slightest 
move  of  his  could  be  without  significance. 

To  be  again  in  the  arena  of  manipulation  awakened 
all  the  boyish  qualities  of  cunning  and  excitement  in 
Drake.  In  the  next  hour  he  conversed  with  a  dozen 
men  seemingly  bending  before  their  advice,  bullish 
or  bearish,  mixing  up  his  orders  so  adroitly  that  had 
the  entire  list  been  spread  before  one  man,  it  would 
have  been  impossible  to  say  which  was  the  principal 
point  of  attack.  At  two  o'clock,  as  the  party  began 
to  thin  out,  Borneman  and  Haggerdy  came  up  to 
shake  hands.  Borneman  restless  and  worried,  Hag 
gerdy  impassive  and  brooding. 

"  What,  going  already  ?  Haven't  they  been  treat 
ing  you  right  ?  "  said  Drake  jovially. 

"  Dan,  you've  a  great  poker  face,"  said  Borneman 
slyly. 

"In  what  way?" 

"  That  was  quite  a  little  bluff  you  threw  into  us  — 
those  selling  orders.  Orders  are  cheap  before  busi 
ness  hours." 


DRAKE'S  GAME  113 

"  So  you  think  I'll  call  you  up  in  the  morning, 
bright  and  early,  and  cancel  ?  " 

Borneman  nodded  with  a  nervous,  jerky  motion  of 
his  head. 

"  I  suppose  you've  been  sort  of  fretting  over  those 
orders  all  evening.  Trouble  with  you,  Al,  is  you 
don't  play  poker:  great  game.  Teaches  you  to  size 
up  a  bluff  from  a  stacked  hand." 

"  I've  got  your  game  figured  out  this  time  all  right," 
said  Borneman,  with  his  ferret's  squint. 

"  Have  you  told  Haggerdy  ?  "  said  Drake  laughing. 
"  You  have.  Want  a  little  bet  on  it  ?  A  thousand 
I'll  tell  you  exactly  what  you've  figured  out." 

He  took  a  bill  from  his  pocketbook  and  held  it  out 
tauntingly. 

"  Are  you  game?  " 

Borneman  hesitated  and  frowned. 

"  Come  on,"  said  Drake,  with  a  mischievous  twin 
kle,  "  the  information's  worth  something." 

This  last  decided  Borneman.  He  nodded  to  Hag 
gerdy. 

"  My  check  to-morrow  if  you  win.  What  exactly 
have  I  figured  your  game  to  be?  " 

"  You've  figured  out  that  I  am  long  to  the  guzzle 
in  the  market  and  that  I'm  putting  up  a  bluff  at  run 
ning  down  values  to  get  you  fellows  to  run  stocks 
up  on  me  while  I  unload.  Credit  that  thousand  to 
my  account.  I'm  going  to  use  it !  " 

Haggerdy  smiled  grimly  and  handed  over  the  bill, 
while  Borneman,  completely  perplexed,  stood  staring 
at  the  manipulator  like  a  startled  child. 

"  Al,  don't  buck  up  against  me,"  said  Drake,  serious 
all  at  once.  "  Of  course  you  will,  but  remember  I 


MAKING  MONEY 

warned  you.  Let  bygones  be  bygones  or  trim  some 
other  fellow." 

"  I  don't  forget  as  easy  as  that,"  said  Borneman 
sullenly. 

"  Great  mistake,"  said  Drake,  with  a  mocking  smile. 
"  You  let  your  personal  feelings  get  into  your  busi 
ness —  bad,  very  bad.  You  ought  to  be  like  Hag- 
gerdy  and  me  —  no  friends  and  no  enemies.  Well, 
Al,  you  will  have  a  crack  at  me,  I  know.  If  you've 
figured  it  out,  you've  got  me.  I  may  have  told  you 
the  truth.  It's  all  very  simple  —  either  you're  right 
or  you're  wrong.  Flip  up  a  coin." 

Borneman  went  off  mumbling.  Haggerdy  loitered, 
ostensibly  to  shake  hands. 

"  Drake,  you  and  I  ought  to  do  something  to 
gether,"  he  said  slowly,  with  his  cold,  lantern  stare. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Instead  of  taking  a  fling,  suppose  we  work  up 
something  worth  while.  The  market's  ready  for  it." 

"And  Borneman?" 

"  Use  him,"  said  Haggerdy,  writh  a  trace  of  a 
smile. 

"  Why,  yes,  we  might  do  something  together,"  said 
Drake,  pretending  to  consider.  "  You  might  do  me 
or  I  might  do  you." 

"  I'm  serious." 

"  So  am  I."  He  shook  hands  and  turned  back  for 
a  final  shot.  "  By  the  way,  Haggerdy,  I'll  tell  you 
one  thing.  Your  information's  correct.  That  fed 
eral  suit  is  coming  off.  Didn't  know  I  knew  it? 
Lord  bless  you,  I  passed  it  on  to  you ! " 

He  turned  his  back  without  waiting  to  watch  the 
effect  of  this  disclosure  and  returned  to  the  supper 


DRAKE'S  GAME  115 

room,  where  he  signaled  Crocker  and  drew  him  aside. 

"  Tom,  I'll  have  a  little  something  for  you  to  do 
to-morrow.  It's  about  time  we  started  moving 
things.  I'm  going  to  put  some  orders  in  through 
you  and  I'm  going  to  operate  some  through  one  of 
my  agents.  Put  this  away  in  your  head  —  Joseph 
R.  Skelly.  Write  it  down  when  you  get  home. 
Anything  that  comes  through  him,  I  stand  behind. 
We  won't  do  anything  in  a  rush,  but  we'll  lay  a  few 
lines.  To-morrow  I  want  you  to  sell  for  me — " 
He  paused  and  deliberated,  suddenly  changing  his 
mind.  "  No,  do  it  this  way.  Call  me  up  from  your 
office  at  twelve  —  no,  eleven  sharp.  I've  got  that 
wedding  at  three.  Ask  for  me  personally.  Under 
stand?  All  right?" 

At  half  past  three  Fred  DeLancy,  Marsh  and  Bo  jo 
went  out  with  the  last  stragglers.  Fred  was  in  high 
spirits,  keeping  them  in  roars  of  laughter,  on  the  brisk 
walk  home.  He  had  been  with  Gladys  Stone  con 
stantly  all  the  evening  and  the  two  friends  had 
watched  a  whispered  parting  on  the  stairs. 

"  I  believe  it's  a  go,"  said  Marsh,  while  DeLancy 
was  passing  the  time  of  day  with  the  policeman  at 
the  corner.  (Fred  was  assiduous  in  his  cultivation 
of  the  force;  he  called  it  "  accident  insurance.") 

"  Something  was  settled,"  said  Bojo  nodding. 
"They've  got  an  understanding,  I'll  bet.  I  passed 
them  once  tucked  in  back  of  a  palm  and  they  stopped 
talking  like  a  shot.  Wish  we  had  the  infant  safely 
put  away,  Fred." 

"  So  do  I." 

The  streets  were  unearthly  stilled  and  inhuman  as 
they  came  back  to  AH  Baba  Court,  with  all  the  win- 


116  MAKING  MONEY 

dows  black,  and  only  the  iron  lanterns  at  the  entrances 
shining  their  foggy  welcome. 

"  Don't  feel  a  bit  like  sleep,"  said  Bojo. 

"  Neither  do  I,"  said  Marsh.  He  stood  looking 
up  at  the  incessantly  vigilant  windows  of  the  great 
newspaper  office  now  in  the  charge  of  the  night  watch. 
"  Wonder  what's  filtering  in  there  ?  I  always  feel 
guilty  when  I  cut  a  night.  I  suppose  it's  like  the 
fascination  of  the  tape.  It  always  gets  me  —  the 
click  of  the  telegraph." 

"  How  are  things  working  out  on  the  paper?  "  said 
Bojo. 

"Thanks,  I'm  getting  into  all  sorts  of  trouble," 
said  Marsh,  rather  gloomily,  he  thought.  "  I'm 
finding  out  a  lot  of  things  I  don't  know  —  sort  of 
measles  and  mumps  period.  I  had  no  right  to  be  out 
to-night.  I  say,  if  you  get  into  any  other  good  thing, 
let  me  know.  I  may  need  it." 

Alone  in  his  room,  Bojo  did  not  go  to  bed  at  once. 
He  was  nervously  awake,  revolving  in  his  mind  too 
many  new  impressions,  new  ambitions  and  strange 
philosophies.  The  evening  at  the  Drakes  had  swept 
from  him  his  last  prejudices  against  the  adventurous 
life  on  which  he  had  embarked.  There  was  some 
thing  overpowering  in  the  spectacle  of  society  as  he 
had  seen  it,  something  so  insolently  triumphant  and 
aloof  from  all  plodding  standards,  so  dramatically 
enticing  that  he  felt  no  longer  compunctions  but  only 
fierce  desires.  The  appetite  had  entered  his  veins, 
infusing  its  fever.  The  few  words  Drake  had  spoken 
to  him  had  sent  his  hope  soaring.  He  was  surprised, 
even  a  little  alarmed,  at  the  intensity  which  awoke  in 
him  to  risk  the  easy  profits  against  a  greater  gamble. 


DRAKE'S  GAME  117 

The  market  went  off  a  shade  the  next  morning, 
rallied  and  then  weakened  under  a  steady  stream  of 
selling  orders.  Rumors  filled  the  air  of  possible 
causes  known  only  to  the  inside  group,  a  conflict  of 
big  interests,  a  suit  for  dissolution  by  a  federal  in 
vestigation.  Something  was  up  —  Drake's  name  was 
whispered  about,  along  with  Haggerdy's  and  a  west 
ern  group.  On  the  Exchange  a  hundred  rumors 
came  into  existence  like  newly  hatched  swarms  of 
insects.  Some  one  was  steadily  bearing  eastern  rail 
roads  and  some  one  as  obstinately  supporting  them, 
but  who  remained  a  mystery,  eagerly  discussed  in 
little  knots,  fervently  alive  to  a  firmer  touch  on  the 
strings  of  speculation. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  true  to  appointment,  Bojo  called 
up  Daniel  Drake  on  his  private  wire  and  received 
an  order  to  buy  at  once  500  shares  of  Seaboard  Air 
Line  and  sell  500  of  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans. 
He  turned  the  order  over  to  Forshay,  with  the  cau 
tion  of  secrecy  that  had  been  transmitted  to  him. 
This  transaction  created  quite  a  flurry,  and  after  a 
consultation  Forshay  was  delegated  to  sound  Bojo. 

"Personal  order  from  the  old  man  himself?"  he 
said,  when  he  had  reported  to  him  the  execution  of 
the  order.  "  Nothing  confidential,  of  course.  Hap 
pened  to  hear  you  telephone." 

"  Why,  no,"  said  Bojo,  telephoning  in  his  report. 

"  Suppose  you've  an  inkling  what's  up  ?  Naturally 
you  have,"  said  Forshay.  "  Now,  I'm  not  going  to 
beat  around  the  bush  or  worm  things  out  of  you. 
We're  mighty  grateful  to  you,  Tom,  for  the  shot  at 
Indiana  Smelter.  If  you  can  let  us  in  on  anything, 
why  do  so.  You  understand.  I've  been  talking 


118  MAKING  MONEY 

things  over  with  Hauk  and  Flaspoller.  If  Drake's 
going  into  the  market,  we  don't  see  why  we  can't 
be  of  use.  'Course,  on  account  of  your  relations,  he 
probably  wouldn't  want  to  do  much  openly  here. 
Too  many  eyes  on  us.  But  what  we  want  you  to 
put  up  to  him  is  —  we  can  cover  things  up  as  well  as 
any  one  else.  Any  orders  to  be  placed  quietly,  we 
can  work  through  certain  channels  —  you  under 
stand.  By  the  way,  doing  anything  on  your  own 
account? " 

"  Not  yet." 

"  Don't  want  to  talk  ?  " 

Bojo  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I'm  quite  in  the  dark,  Mr.  Forshay,"  he  said  cau 
tiously. 

Forshay  took  a  few  steps  thoughtfully  about  the 
room,  stopping  curiously  to  examine  the  tape  and 
came  back. 

"  Look  here,  Tom,  if  there's  anything  on  a  big 
scale  on,  why  shouldn't  we  get  a  whack  at  it?  You 
see,  I'm  putting  my  cards  on  the  table.  We  consider 
you  a  sort  of  a  member  of  the  firm.  I  made  you  a 
proposition  once.  Perhaps  we  can  better  it  now." 
He  hesitated,  rearranging  the  sheets  on  the  desk  be 
fore  him.  "  I'm  trying  to  see  how  we  could  work 
this  out.  It's  not  exactly  etiquette  to  give  commis 
sions  down  here  —  though  why  the  Lord  knows. 
Suppose  I  work  out  a  scale  of  salary  —  to  meet,  say, 
certain  eventualities.  Let  me  think  that  over. 
Meanwhile  here's  what  we'd  be  glad  to  do.  You  can't 
be  calling  up  Drake  out  here  where  any  one  can  be 
pricking  up  his  ears.  Now  it  may  fit  in  his  plans  or 


DRAKE'S  GAME  119 

not,  but  there's  no  harm  trying.  If  he  wants  to 
operate  through  us,  and  have  things  well  covered  up, 
it  might  be  better  for  you  to  handle  it  from  my  room 
on  a  special  wire.  We'll  fix  you  up  in  there;  glad 
to."  He  stopped,  considered  Bojo  thoughtfully,  and 
added :  "  Tom,  we  want  some  of  Drake's  business. 
No  reason  in  the  world  why  you  shouldn't  get  it. 
You  know  us.  You  know  we  can  be  trusted,  and 
you  know  we  are  appreciative  —  understand?  " 

"  I  can  try,"  said  Bojo  doubtfully. 

But  to  his  surprise  when  he  approached  Drake  on 
the  following  night  he  found  a  receptive  listener. 

"  Don't  .know  but  what  I  could  use  your  firm," 
said  the  operator  thoughtfully.  "  Not  that  I'm  rush 
ing  matters  too  much,  Tom.  The  market's  pretty 
strong  at  present.  I  want  to  feel  it  out.  Maybe  I 
could  use  them  —  for  what  I  want  them  to  know. 
Get  your  raise,  but  keep  out  of  the  firm  —  for  the 
present,  anyhow.  Just  now  I'm  holding  back  a  little, 
Tom,  a  little  early  to  uncover  my  game  —  tell  you, 
though,  what  you  might  do;  sell  five  hundred  shares 
a  day  of  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  for  me,  but 
tell  them  to  break  it  up  50  here  and  50  there.  I  don't 
mind  telling  you  one  thing,  but  keep  it  under  your 
belt;  no  confidences  this  time."  He  looked  up 
sharply  at  the  young  fellow,  who  twisted  on  his  heel 
under  the  look.  "  Confidences  sometimes  react  and 
I  don't  want  the  cat  out  of  the  bag.  What's  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans  quoted?" 

"  47T/s  Closing,"  said  Bojo. 

"  A  month  from  to-day  it'll  sell  below  thirty.  And 
another  thing,  Tom,  don't  go  trying  any  fliers  on 


120  MAKING  MONEY 

your  own  hook,  without  coming  to  me.  You  had 
fool's  luck  once,  don't  try  it  again.  Remember  I'm 
manipulating  this  pool  and  I  have  my  ways !  " 

This  time  Bojo  was  under  no  illusions.  Despite 
his  warning  he  knew  in  the  bottom  of  his  heart  that 
when  the  moment  came  he  would  operate  for  him 
self.  However,  he  resolved  on  two  things :  to  share 
his  secret  with  no  one  and  to  watch  the  course  of 
Pittsburgh  and  New  Orleans  for  a  week  before  mak 
ing  up  his  mind.  The  first  flurry  had  subsided.  To 
the  surprise  of  every  one  the  attack  ceased  over  night. 
The  list  resumed  its  normal  position  with  the  excep 
tion  of  several  southern  railroad  stocks,  notably  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans,  which  remained  heavy,  declin 
ing  fractionally. 

During  these  days,  Bojo  resolutely  stuck  to  his 
resolve,  imparting  no  information,  keeping  out  of  the 
market  himself.  On  the  announcement  of  the  first 
order  for  Drake,  his  salary  was  raised  to  $125  a 
week  and  the  affection  of  the  firm  showed  itself  in 
several  invitations  to  enter  the  consultation.  Each 
day  Forshay  found  opportunity  to  ask  in  a  cacual 
way : 

"  Not  doing  anything  on  your  own  hook  yet,  eh  ? 
Sort  of  watching  developments?" 

Ten  days  after  the  first  attack,  another  flurry  ar 
rived,  but  this  time  the  attack  was  from  the  open, 
from  all  the  bear  cohorts  who  for  months  had  been 
grumbling  in  vain,  predicting  disaster  from  inflation 
and  the  panic  that  must  follow  inevitable  readjust 
ment.  Borneman  and  his  crowd  sold  openly  and  vi 
ciously,  raiding  all  stocks  alike,  particularly  indus 
trials.  That  day,  among  other  orders,  Hauk,  Flas- 


DRAKE'S  GAME  121 

poller  and  Forshay  sold  10,000  shares  of  Pittsburgh 
&  New  Orleans  which  broke  from  44  to  39^  un 
der  savage  pounding.  Crocker  resisted  no  longer 
and  sold  a  thousand  for  his  own  account.  That  day 
Forshay  failed  to  make  his  usual  inquiry. 

After  three  days  of  convulsive  advances  and  speedy 
falls,  the  attack  again  slackened,  but  this  time  the 
whole  list  rallied  with  difficulty,  receding  almost  im 
perceptibly,  but  slowly  yielding  under  a  decided 
change  of  public  sentiment.  When  Pittsburgh  & 
New  Orleans  touched  38,  Bojo  squared  his  conscience 
to  the  extent  of  exacting  the  most  solemn  promises 
of  undying  secrecy  from  Fred  DeLancy  before  com 
municating  to  them  the  information  that  had  now 
become  a  conviction,  that  he  had  placed  $50,000  in  a 
pool  which  Drake  was  engineering  to  sell  the  market 
short  and  make  a  killing  of  Pittsburgh  &  New  Or 
leans.  He  imparted  the  confidence  not  simply  be 
cause  it  had  become  an  almost  intolerable  secret  to 
carry,  but  for  deeper  reasons.  Fred  DeLancy  had 
sunk  half  of  his  former  profits  in  the  purchase  of  an 
automobile  and  in  free  spending,  and  Marsh  was  faced 
with  serious  losses  on  the  paper  from  a  strike  of 
compositors  and  a  falling  of  advertising  as  the  re 
sult  of  the  new  radical  policy  of  the  editorial  page. 


CHAPTER  XI 

BOJO   BUTTS   IN 

SUNDAY  the  four  were  accustomed  to  lounge 
through  the  morning  and  saunter  down  the  Ave 
nue  for  a  late  luncheon  at  the  Brevoort.  On  the  pres 
ent  date,  Granning  was  stretched  on  the  window-seat 
re-reading  a  favorite  novel  of  Dumas,  Bo  jo  and 
Marsh  pulling  at  their  pipes  in  a  deep  discussion  of 
an  important  rumor  which  might  considerably  affect 
the  downward  progress  of  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans 
—  a  possible  investigation  by  certain  Southern  States 
which  was  the  talk  of  the  office  —  while  Fred  at  the 
piano  was  replaying  by  ear  melodies  from  last  night's 
comic  opera,  when  the  telephone  rang. 

"  You  answer  it,  Bojo,"  said  DeLancy,  "  and  hist, 
be  cautious ! " 

Bojo  did  as  commanded,  saying  almost  immedi 
ately  : 

"  Party  for  you,  Freddie." 

"  Male  or  female  voice  ?  " 

"  Male." 

DeLancy  rose  with  a  look  of  relief  and  tripped  over 
to  the  receiver.  But  almost  immediately  he  crumpled 
up  with  a  simulation  of  despair.  Bojo  and  Marsh 
exchanged  a  glance,  and  Granning  ceased  reading,  at 
muffled  sounds  of  explanation  which  reached  them 
from  the  other  room. 

122 


BOJO  BUTTS  IN  123 

"  Pinched,"  said  DeLancy,  returning  gloomily  and, 
flopping  on  the  piano  stool,  he  struck  an  angry 
chord. 

The  three  friends,  according  to  male  etiquette, 
maintained  an  attitude  of  correct  incomprehension 
while  Fred  marched  lugubriously  up  and  down  the 
keyboard.  "  Holy  cats,  now  I  am  in  for  it !  " 

"  Louise  Varney?  "  said  Bojo. 

"  Louise !  And  I  swore  on  my  grandmother's 
knuckles  I  was  going  up  country  this  afternoon. 
Beautiful  —  beautiful  prospect !  I  say,  Bojo,  you  got 
me  into  this  —  you've  got  to  stick  by  me !  " 

"What's  that  mean?" 

"  Shooting  off  in  the  car  with  us  for  luncheon.  For 
the  love  of  me,  stand  by  a  fellow,  will  you  ?  " 

Bojo  hesitated. 

"  Go  on,"  said  Marsh  with  a  wary  look.  "  If  you 
don't,  the  inf  ant'll  come  back  married !  " 

"  Quite  possible,"  said  DeLancy,  disconsolately. 

"  I'll  go  if  you'll  stand  for  the  lecture,"  said  Bojo 
severely,  for  DeLancy  had  become  a  matter  of  seri 
ous  deliberation. 

"  Anything.  You  can't  rub  it  in  too  hard,"  said 
Fred,  who  went  to  the  mirror  to  see  if  his  hair  was 
turning  gray.  "  And  say,  for  Mike's  sake,  think  up  a 
new  lie  —  I'm  down  to  dentist's  appointments  and 
mother's  come  to  town." 

Delighted  at  Bojo's  adherence  that  saved  him  from 
the  prospects  of  a  difficult  tete-a-tete,  he  began  to  re 
cover  his  spirits;  but  Bojo,  assuming  a  severe  coun 
tenance,  awaited  his  opportunity. 

"  I  say,  don't  look  at  me  with  that  pulpit  expres 
sion,"  said  DeLancy  an  hour  later  as  they  streaked 


124.  MAKING  MONEY 

through  the  Park  on  their  way  to  upper  Riverside. 
"What  have  I  done?" 

"  Fred,  you're  getting  in  deep !  " 

"Don't  I  know  it?"  said  that  impressionable 
young  man,  jerking  the  car  ahead.  "  Well,  get  me 
out." 

"  I'm  not  sure  you  want  to  get  out,"  said  Bojo 
doubtfully. 

DeLancy  confessed ;  in  fact,  confession  was  a  pleas 
ant  and  well-established  habit  with  him. 

"  Bojo,  it's  no  use.  When  I'm  away  from  her,  I 
can  call  myself  a  fool  in  six  languages.  I  am  a  fool. 
I  know  I  have  no  business  hanging  round;  but,  say, 
the  moment  she  turns  up  I'm  ready  to  lie  down  and 
roll  over." 

"  It's  puppy  love." 

"  I  admit  it." 

"  She's  just  going  to  keep  you  dangling,  Fred. 
You  know  as  well  as  I  do  you  haven't  a  chance  even 
if  you  were  idiotic  enough  to  think  of  marrying  her. 
She's  not  losing  her  head,  you  can  bet  on  that.  That's 
why  the  mother  is  on  deck." 

"  Oh,  there  are  half  a  dozen  Yaps  with  a  wad  she 
could  have,  and  any  time  she  wants  to  whistle,"  said 
Fred  pugnaciously. 

Bojo  decided  to  change  his  tactics. 

"  I  thought  you  were  cleverer.  Thought  you'd 
planned  out  your  whole  career;  remember  the  night 
up  on  the  Astor  roof  —  you  weren't  going  to  make 
any  mistakes,  oh  no !  You  were  going  to  marry  a  mil 
lion.  You  weren't  going  to  get  caught !  " 

"  Shut  up,  Bojo.  Can't  you  see  how  rotten  I'm  in 
it?  I'm  doing  my  best  to  break  away." 


BOJO  BUTTS  IN  125 

"  Get  up  a  row  then  and  stay  away." 

"  I've  tried,  but  she's  too  clever  for  that.  Honest, 
Tom,  I  think  she's  fond  of  me." 

Bo  jo  groaned. 

"  She  thinks  you're  a  millionaire  with  your  con 
founded  style,  and  your  confounded  car  —  that's 
all!" 

"  Well,  maybe  I  will  be,"  said  DeLancy  with  a  sud 
den  revulsion  to  cheerfulness,  "  if  Pittsburgh  &  New 
Orleans  keeps  a-sliding." 

"  Suppose  we  get  caught! " 

"I  say,  there's  no  danger  of  that?"  said  Fred, 
alarmed.  "  I'm  in  deep." 

"  No,  not  much,  but  there's  always  the  chance  of  a 
slip,"  said  Bojo,  who  began  to  wonder  if  a  successful 
issue  wpuld  not  further  complicate  Fred's  sentimental 
entanglements. 

At  this  moment  they  came  to  a  stop,  and  Fred  said 
in  a  comforting  tone : 

"  Louise'll  be  furious  because  I  brought  you." 

"  You  old  humbug,"  said  Bojo,  perceiving  the  eager 
ness  in  Mr.  Fred's  eyes.  "  You're  just  tickled  to 
death." 

"  Well,  perhaps  I  am,"  said  Fred,  laughing  at  his 
friend's  serious  face.  "  Say,  she  has  a  way  with  her 
—  hasn't  she  now  ?  " 

Miss  Louise  Varney  did  not  seem  over-delighted 
at  the  spectacle  of  a  guest  in  the  party  as  she  came 
running  out,  backed  by  the  vigilant  dowager  figure  of 
Mrs.  Varney,  who  never  let  her  daughter  out  of  her 
charge.  But  whatever  irritation  she  might  have  felt 
she  concealed  under  a  charming  smile,  while  Mrs. 
Varney,  accustomed  to  swinging  in  solitary  dignity 


126  MAKING  MONEY 

in  the  back  seat,  welcomed  him  with  genuine  en 
thusiasm. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Crocker,  isn't  this  grand !  You  and 
me  can  sit  here  flirting  on  the  back  seat  and  let  them 
whisper  sweet  nothings."  She  tapped  him  on  the 
arm,  saying  in  a  half  voice :  "  Say,  they  certainly  are 
a  good  looking  team  now,  ain't  they  ?  " 

The  old  Grenadier,  as  she  was  affectionately 
termed  by  her  daughter's  admirers,  was  out  in  her 
war  paint,  dressed  like  a  debutante,  fatly  complacent 
and  smiling  with  the  prospect  of  a  delicious  lunch  at 
the  end  of  the  drive. 

"  Say,  I  think  Fred's  the  sweetest  feller,"  she  be 
gan,  beaming  on  Bojo,  "  and  so  smart  too.  Louise 
says  he  could  make  a  forchin  in  vaudeville.  I  think 
he's  much  cleverer  than  that  Pinkie  feller  who  gets 
two-fifty  a  week  for  giving  imitations  on  the  pianner. 
Why  haven't  you  been  around,  Mr.  Crocker?  "  She 
nudged  him  again,  her  maternal  gaze  fondly  fixed 
on  her  daughter.  "  Isn't  she  a  dream  in  that  cute 
little  hat  ?  My  Lord,  I  should  think  all  the  men  would 
be  just  crazy  about  her." 

"  Most  of  them  are,  I  should  say,"  said  Bojo,  and, 
smiling,  he  nodded  in  the  direction  of  Fred  DeLancy, 
who  was  at  that  moment  in  the  throes  of  a  difficult 
explanation. 

Mrs.  Varney  gave  a  huge  sigh  and  proceeded  con 
fidentially. 

"  'Course  Louise's  got  a  great  future,  every  one 
says,  and  vaudeville  does  pay  high  when  you  get  to  be 
a  top  notcher;  but,  my  sakes,  Mr.  Crocker,  money 
isn't  everything  in  this  world,  as  I  often  told  her  — " 

"  Mother,   be  quiet  —  you're  talking  too   much," 


BOJO  BUTTS  IN  127 

said  Miss  Louise  Varney  abruptly,  whose  alert  little 
ear  was  always  trained  for  maternal  indiscretions. 
Mrs.  Varney,  as  was  her  habit,  withdrew  into  an  atti 
tude  of  sulky  aloofness,  not  to  relax  until  they  were 
cozily  ensconced  at  a  corner  table  in  a  wayside  inn  for 
luncheon.  By  this  time  Miss  Varney  had  evidently 
decided  to  accept  the  protestations  of  DeLancy,  and 
peace  having  been  declared  and  the  old  Grenadier  mol 
lified  by  her  favorite  broiled  lobster  and  a  carafe  of 
beer,  the  party  proceeded  gaily.  Fred  DeLancy,  in 
defiance  of  Bojo's  presence,  beaming  and  fascinated, 
exchanged  confidential  whispers  and  smiles  with  the 
girl  which  each  fondly  believed  unperceived. 

"  Good  Lord,"  thought  Bojo  to  himself,  now  quite 
alarmed,  "this  is  a  pickle!  He's  in  for  it  fair  this 
time  and  no  mistake.  She  can  have  him  any  time  she 
wants  to.  Of  course  she  thinks  he's  loaded  with  dia 
monds." 

Mr.  Fred's  attitude,  in  fact,  would  have  deceived 
a  princess  of  the  royal  blood. 

"  Louis,  get  up  something  tasty,"  he  said  to  the 
bending  mditre  d'hoteL  "  You  know  what  I  like. 
Don't  bother  me  with  the  menu.  Louis,"  he  added 
confidentially,  "  is  a  jewel  —  the  one  man  in  New 
York  you  can  trust."  He  initialed  the  check  without 
examining  it  and  laid  down  a  gorgeous  tip  with  a  care 
less  flip  of  the  finger. 

"  The  little  idiot,"  thought  Bojo.  "  I  wonder  what 
bills  he's  run  up.  Decidedly  I  must  get  a  chance  at  the 
girl  and  open  her  eyes." 

Chance  favored  him,  or  rather  Miss  Varney  herself. 
Luncheon  over,  while  Fred  went  out  for  the  car, 
she  said  abruptly: 


128  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Let's  run  out  in  the  garden.  I  want  to  talk  to 
you.  Don't  worry,  mamma.  It's  all  right."  And  as 
Mrs.  Varney,  true  to  her  grenadierial  instincts,  pre 
pared  to  object,  she  added  with  a  shrug  of  her  shoul 
ders:  "  Now  just  doze  away  like  a  dear.  We  can't 
elope,  you  know !  " 

"  What  can  she  want  to  say  to  me?  "  thought  Bojo 
curiously,  suffering  her  to  lead  him  laughing  out 
through  the  glass  doors  into  the  pebbled  paths.  De 
spite  his  growing  alarm,  Bojo  was  forced  to  admit  that 
Miss  Varney,  with  her  quick  Japanese  eyes  and  bub 
bling  humor,  was  a  most  fascinating  person,  particu 
larly  when  she  exerted  herself  to  please  in  little  inti 
mate  ways. 

"  Mr.  Crocker,  you  don't  like  me,"  she  said 
abruptly.  He  defended  himself  badly.  "  Don't  fib 
—  you  are  against  me.  Why?  On  account  of 
Fred?" 

"  I  don't  dislike  you  —  no  one  could,"  he  said, 
yielding  to  the  persuasion  of  her  smile,  "  but  if  you 
want  to  know,  I  am  worried  over  Fred.  He  is  head 
over  heels  in  love  with  you,  young  lady." 

"And  why  not?" 

"  Do  you  care  for  him  ?  " 

"  Yes  —  very  much,"  she  said  quietly,  "  and  I  want 
you  to  be  our  friend." 

"  Good  heavens,  I  really  believe  she  does,"  he 
thought,  panic-stricken.  Aloud  he  said  abruptly : 
"If  that  is  what  you  want,  let  me  ask  you  a  question. 
Please  forgive  me  for  being  direct.  Do  you  know 
that  Fred  hasn't  a  cent  in  the  world  but  what  he 
makes?  You  can  judge  yourself  how  he  spends 
that." 


BOJO  BUTTS  IN  129 

"  But  Fred  told  me  he  had  made  a  lot  lately  and  I 
know  he  expects  to  make  ten  times  that  in  some 
thing  — "  she  stopped  hastily  at  a  look  in  Bojo's  face. 
"  Why,  what's  wrong?  " 

"  Miss  Varney  —  you  haven't  put  anything  into  it, 
have  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have,"  she  said  after  a  moment's  hesita 
tion.  "  Why,  he  told  me  you  yourself  told  him  he 
couldn't  lose.  You  don't  mean  to  say  there's  any  — 
any  danger?  " 

"  I'm  sorry.  He  shouldn't  have  told  you ! 
There's  always  a  risk.  I'm  sorry  he  let  you  do 
that." 

"  Oh,  I  oughtn't  to  have  let  it  out,"  she  said  con 
tritely.  "  Promise  not  to  tell  him.  I  didn't  mean  to ! 
Besides  —  it's  not  much  really." 

Bo  jo  shook  his  head. 

"  Mr.  Crocker  —  Tom,"  she  said,  laying  her  hand 
on  his  arm,  "  don't  turn  him  against  me.  I'm  being 
square  with  you.  I  do  care  for  Fred.  I  don't  care 
if  he  hasn't  a  cent  in  the  world;  really  I'm  not  that 
sort,  honest." 

"  And  your  mother?  " 

She  was  silent,  and  he  seized  the  advantage. 

"  Why  get  into  something  that'll  only  hurt  you 
both?  Suppose  things  turn  out  all  right.  He'll 
spend  every  cent  he'll  make  in  a  few  months.  Now 
listen,  Louise.  You're  not  made  for  life  in  a  flat; 
neither  is  he.  It  would  be  a  miserable  disaster.  I'm 
sorry,"  he  said,  seeing  her  eyes  fill.  "  But  what  I  say 
is  true.  You've  got  a  career,  a  brilliant  career  with 
money  and  fame  ahead ;  don't  spoil  your  chances  and 
don't  spoil  his." 


130  MAKING  MONEY 

"What  do  you  mean?"  she  said,  flaring  up. 
"  Then  there  is  some  one  else !  I  knew  it !  That's 
where  he's  going  this  afternoon !  " 

"  There  is  no  one  else,"  he  said,  lying  outrageously. 
"  I've  warned  you.  I've  told  you  the  real  situation. 
That's  all." 

"  Let's  go  back,"  she  said  abruptly,  and  she  went  in 
silence  as  far  as  the  house,  where  she  turned  on  him. 
"  I  don't  believe  what  you've  told  me.  I  know  he  is 
not  poor  or  a  beggar  as  you  say.  Would  he  be  going 
around  with  the  crowd  he  does  ?  No ! "  With  an 
upspurt  of  rage  of  which  he  had  not  believed  her 
capable,  she  added :  "  Now  I  warn  you.  What  we 
do  is  our  affair.  Don't  butt  in  or  there'll  be  trouble !  " 

On  the  return,  doubtless  for  several  reasons,  she 
elected  to  send  her  mother  in  front,  and  to  keep  Bojo 
company  on  the  back  seat,  where  as  though  regretting 
her  one  revealing  flash  of  temper,  she  sought  to  be  as 
gracious  and  entertaining  as  possible.  Despite  a  last 
whispered  appeal  accompanied  by  a  soft  pressure  of 
the  arm  and  a  troubled  glance  of  the  eyes,  no  sooner 
had  they  deposited  mother  and  daughter  than  Bojo 
broke  out: 

"  Fred,  what  in  the  name  of  heaven  possessed  you 
to  put  Louise  Varney's  money  in  a  speculation? 
How  many  others  have  you  told?  " 

"  Only  a  few  —  very  few." 

"  But,  Fred,  think  of  the  responsibility !  Now  look 
here,  straight  from  the  shoulder  —  do  you  know 
what's  going  to  happen?  Before  you  know  it, 
you're  going  to  wake  up  and  find  yourself  married  to 
Louise  Varney ! " 


BOJO  BUTTS  IN  131 

"  Don't  jump  on  me,  Bojo,"  said  Fred,  miserably. 
"  I'm  scared  to  death  myself." 

"  But,  Fred,  you  can't  do  such  a  thing.  Louise  is 
pretty  —  attractive  enough  —  I'll  admit  it  —  and 
straight;  but  the  mother,  Fred  —  you  can't  do  it, 
you'll  just  drop  out.  It'll  be  the  end  of  you.  Man, 
can't  you  see  it?  I  thought  you  prided  yourself  on 
being  a  man  of  the  world.  Look  at  your  friends. 
There's  Gladys  Stone  —  crazy  about  you.  You  know 
it.  Are  you  going  to  throw  all  that  away !  " 

"  If  I  was  sure  of  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  I  be 
lieve  I'd  marry  Louise  to-morrow ! "  said  Fred  with 
a  long  breath.  "  Call  me  crazy  —  I  am  crazy  —  a 
raving,  tearing  fool,  but  that  doesn't  help.  Lord, 
nothing  helps ! " 

"  Fred,  answer  me  one  question.  We  all  thought, 
the  night  of  the  ball,  you  and  Gladys  Stone  had  come 
to  an  understanding.  Is  that  true  ?  " 

Fred  turned  his  head  and  groaned. 

"  I'm  a  cad,  a  horrible,  beastly  little  cad ! " 

"  Good  Lord,  is  it  as  bad  as  that ! "  said  Bojo. 
"  But,  Fred,  old  boy,  how  did  it  happen  ?  How  did 
you  ever  get  in  so  deep !  " 

"  How  do  I  know  ?  "  said  DeLancy  miserably.  "  It 
was  just  playing  around.  Other  men  were  crazy  over 
her.  I  never  meant  to  be  serious  in  the  beginning  — 
and  then  —  then  I  was  caught." 

"  Fred,  old  fellow,  you've  got  to  get  hold  of  your 
self.  Will  you  let  me  butt  in  ?  " 

"  I  wish  to  God  you  would." 

That  night  Bojo  sent  a  long  letter  off  to  Doris,  who 
was  staying  in  the  Berkshires  with  Gladys  Stone  as  a 


MAKING  MONEY 

guest.  As  a  result  the  two  young  men  departed  for 
a  week-end  of  winter  sports.  On  the  Pullman  they 
stowed  their  valises  and  wandered  back  into  the 
smoker  where  the  first  person  Bojo  saw,  bound  for 
the  same  destination,  was  young  Boskirk. 


CHAPTER  XII 

SNOW    MAGIC 

BOSKIRK  and  Bojo  greeted  each  other  with  that 
excessive  cordiality  which  the  conventions  of  so 
ciety  impose  upon  two  men  who  hate  each  other  cor 
dially  but  are  debarred  from  the  primeval  instincts 
to  slay. 

"  He  wouldn't  gamble,  he  wouldn't  take  a  risk ! 
Oh  no,  nothing  human  about  him,"  said  Bojo  to  Fred, 
sending  a  look  of  antagonism  at  Boskirk,  who  was 
adjusting  his  glasses  and  spreading  the  contents  of  a 
satchel  on  the  table  before  him. 

"  The  human  cash-register ! "  said  DeLancy. 
"  Born  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  middle  names  Cau 
tion,  Conservatism,  and  the  Constitution.  Favorite 
romance  —  Statistics." 

"Thank  you !  "  said  Bojo,  somewhat  mollified. 

"  There  was  a  young  man  named  Boskirk 
Who  never  his  duty  would  shirk, — " 

began  DeLancy  —  and  forthwith  retired  into  intel 
lectual  seclusion  to  complete  the  limerick. 

The  spectacle  of  Boskirk  immersed  in  business  de 
tail  irritated  Bojo  immeasurably.  The  feeling  it 
aroused  in  him  was  not  jealousy  but  rather  a  sense 
that  some  one  was  threatening  his  right  and  his  prop 
erty. 

133 


134  MAKING  MONEY 

A  complete  and  insidious  change  had  been  worked 
in  his  moral  fiber.  The  hazardous  speculation  to 
which  he  was  now  committed,  which  was  nothing  but 
the  sheerest  and  most  vicious  form  of  gambling,  the 
wrecking  of  property,  would  have  been  impossible  to 
him  six  months  before.  But  he  had  lived  too  long 
in  the  atmosphere  of  luxury,  and  too  close  to  the 
master  adventurers  of  that  speculative  day.  Luxury 
had  become  a  second  nature  to  him ;  contact  with  men 
who  could  sell  him  out  twenty  times  over  had  brought 
him  the  parching  hunger  for  money.  All  other  ideals 
had  yielded  before  a  new  ideal  —  force.  To  impose 
one's  self,  making  one's  own  laws,  brushing  aside 
weak  scruples,  planning  above  ridiculously  simple  and 
obvious  schemes  of  legal  conduct  for  the  ordering  of 
the  multitude,  silencing  criticism  by  the  magnitude 
of  the  operation  —  a  master  where  a  weak  man  ended 
a  criminal:  —  this  was  the  new  scheme  of  life  which 
he  was  gradually  absorbing. 

He  had  become  worldly  with  the  confidence  of  suc 
ceeding.  Whatever  compunctions  he  had  formerly 
felt  about  a  marriage  with  Doris  he  had  dismissed 
as  pure  sentimentality.  There  remained  only  a  cer 
tain  pride,  a  desire  to  know  his  worth  by  some  mas 
ter  stroke.  In  this  fierce  need,  he  had  lost  modera 
tion  and  caution.  With  the  steady  decline  of  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans,  his  appetite  had  increased.  It 
was  no  longer  a  fair  profit  he  wanted,  but  something 
miraculous.  He  had  sold  hundreds  of  shares,  placing 
always  a  limit,  vowing  to  be  satisfied,  and  always  go 
ing  beyond  it.  He  had  plunged  first  to  the  amount 
of  thirty  odd  thousand,  reserving  the  fifty  thousand 


SNOW  MAGIC  135 

which  was  pledged  to  the  pool,  but  which  he  had  not 
been  called  on  to  deliver.  But  this  fifty  thousand  re 
mained  a  horrible  ever-present  temptation.  He  re 
sisted  at  first,  borrowing  five  thousand  from  Marsh 
when  the  rage  of  selling  drove  him  deeper  in;  then 
finally,  absolutely  confident,  he  had  yielded,  without 
much  shock  to  his  conscience,  and  drawn  each  day 
until  on  this  morning  he  had  drawn  on  the  last  ten 
thousand  as  collateral. 

And  still  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  receded,  heap 
ing  up  before  his  mind  fantastic  profits. 

"  When  asked,  '  Don't  you  tire,' 
He  said,  'Di  diddledee  dire  — 
I  never  can  get  enough  work,' " 

finished  Fred  with  a  grimace.  "  That's  pretty  bad  — 
but  so's  the  subject." 

"  Look  here,  Fred,"  said  Bojo,  thus  recalled  from 
the  tyranny  of  figures  which  kept  swirling  before  his 
eyes.  "  I  want  to  talk  to  you.  I'm  worried  about 
your  letting  Louise  Varney  in  on  Pittsburgh  &  New 
Orleans;  besides  I  suspect  you've  plunged  a  darned 
sight  deeper  than  you  ought." 

And  from  the  moral  superiority  of  a  man  of  force, 
he  read  him  a  lecture  on  the  danger  to  the  mere  out 
sider  of  risking  all  on  one  hazard  —  a  sensible  pointed 
warning  which  DeLancy  accepted  contritely,  in  utter 
ignorance  of  the  preacher's  own  perilous  position. 

It  was  well  after  seven  when  they  stepped  out  on 
the  icy  station  amid  the  gay  crowd  of  week-enders. 
Patsie,  at  the  reins,  halloed  to  them  from  a  rakish 
cutter,  and  the  next  moment  they  nere  off  over  the 


136  MAKING  MONEY 

crackling  snow  with  long,  luminous,  purple  shadows 
at  their  sides,  racing  past  other  sleighs  with  jingling 
bells  and  shrieks  of  recognition. 

"  Heavens,  Patsie,  you're  worse  than  Fred  with  his 
car!  I  say,  look  out  —  you  missed  that  cutter  by  a 
foot,"  said  Bo  jo,  who  had  taken  the  seat  beside  the 
young  Eskimo  at  an  imperious  command. 

"  Pooh,  that's  nothing !  "  said  that  reckless  person. 
"  Watch  this."  With  a  sudden  swerve  she  drew  past 
a  contending  sleigh  and  gained  the  head  of  the  road 
by  a  margin  so  narrow  that  the  occupants  of  the  back 
seat  broke  into  many  cries. 

"  Here,  let  me  out  —  Murder !  —  Police !  " 

"  Don't  worry,  the  snow's  lovely  and  soft !  "  Patsie 
shouted  back,  delighted.  "  Turned  over  myself  yes 
terday  —  doesn't  hurt  a  bit." 

This  encouraging  information  was  received  with 
frantic  cries  and  demands  on  Bojo  to  take  the  reins. 

"  Don't  you  dare,"  said  the  gay  lady  indignantly, 
setting  her  feet  firmly  and  flinging  all  the  weight  of 
her  shoulders  against  a  sudden  break  of  the  spirited 
team. 

"  Pulling  pretty  hard,"  said  Bojo,  watching  askance 
the  riotous  struggle  that  whirled  past  cottage  and 
evergreen  and  filled  the  air  with  a  snowy  bombard 
ment  from  the  scurrying  hoofs.  "  Say  when,  if  you 
need  me." 

"  I  won't!     Tell  the  back  seat  to  jump  if  I  shout !  " 

"  Holy  murder !  "  exclaimed  Fred  DeLancy,  who  so 
far  forgot  his  animosities  as  to  cling  to  Boskirk,  pos 
sibly  with  the  idea  of  providing  himself  a  cushion  in 
case  of  need. 

"Are  they  awfully  scared?"  said  Patsie  in  a  de- 


SNOW  MAGIC  13T 

lighted  whisper.  "  Yes  ?  Just  you  wait  till  we  get 
to  the  gate.  That  will  make  them  howl!  How's 
your  nose  —  frozen  ?  " 

"Glorious!" 

"  Too  cold  for  Doris  and  the  rest.  Catch  them 
getting  chapped  up.  Their  idea  of  winter  sports  is 
popping  popcorn  by  the  fire.  Thank  heaven  you've 
arrived,  Bojo !  I'm  suffocating.  Hold  tight !  " 

"  Hold  tight  I "  sang  out  Bojo,  not  without  some 
apprehension  as  the  sleigh,  without  slackening  speed, 
approached  the  sudden  swerve  which  led  through  mas 
sive  stone  columns  into  the  Drake  estate.  The  quick 
turn  raised  them  on  edge,  skidding  over  the  beaten 
snow  so  that  the  sleigh  came  up  with  a  bump  against 
the  farther  pillar  and  then  shot  forward  up  the  long 
hill  crowned  with  blazing  porches  and  to  a  stop  at 
last,  saluted  by  the  riotous  acclaim  of  a  dozen  dogs  of 
all  sizes  and  breeds. 

"  Scared  —  honor-bright?  "  said  Patsie,  leaping  out 
as  a  groom  came  up  to  take  the  horses. 

"  Never  again !  "  said  DeLancy,  springing  to  terra 
firma  with  a  groan  of  relief,  while  Boskirk  looked  at 
the  reckless  girl  with  a  disapproving  shake  of  his 
head. 

They  went  stamping  into  the  great  hall  to  the 
warmth  of  a  great  log  blaze,  Patsie  dancing  ahead, 
shedding  toboggan  cap  and  muffler  riotously  on  the 
way,  for  a  dignified  footman  to  gather  in. 

"  Don't  look  so  disappointed !  "  she  cried,  laughing, 
as  the  three  young  men  looked  about  expectantly. 
"  The  parlor  beauties  are  upstairs  splashing  in  paint 
and  powder,  getting  ready  for  the  grand  en 
trance  ! " 


138  MAKING  MONEY 

Boskirk  and  DeLancy  went  off  to  their  rooms  while 
Bojo,  at  a  sign  from  Patsie,  remained  behind. 

"Well?  "he  said. 

"  Bojo,  do  me  a  favor  —  a  great  favor,"  she  said 
instantly,  seizing  the  lapels  of  his  coat.  "  It's  moon 
light  to-night  and  we've  got  the  most  glorious  coast 
for  a  toboggan  and,  Bojo,  I'm  just  crazy  to  go. 
After  dinner,  won't  you  ?  Please  say  yes." 

"  Why,  we'll  get  up  a  party,"  said  Bojo,  hesitating 
and  tempted. 

"  Party  ?  Catch  those  mollycoddles  getting  away 
from  the  steam-heaters!  Now,  Bojo,  be  a  dear. 
You're  the  only  real  being  I've  had  here  in  weeks. 
Besides,  if  you  have  any  spunk  you'll  do  it,"  she  added 
artfully. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Just  let  Doris  get  her  fill  of  that  old  fossil  of  a 
Boskirk.  Show  your  independence.  Bojo,  please 
do  it  for  me !  " 

She  clung  to  him,  coquetting  with  her  eyes  and  smile 
with  the  dangerous  inconscient  coquetry  of  a  child, 
and  this  radiance  and  rosy  youth,  so  close  to  him,  so 
intimately  offered,  brought  him  a  disturbing  emotion. 
He  turned  away  so  as  not  to  meet  the  sparkling,  plead 
ing  glance. 

"  Young  lady,"  he  said  with  assumed  gruffness,  "  I 
see  you  are  learning  entirely  too  fast.  I  believe  you 
are  actually  flirting  with  me." 

"  Then  you  will !  "  she  cried  gleefully.  "  Hoo 
ray  !  "  She  flung  her  arms  about  him  in  a  rapturous 
squeeze  and  fled  like  a  wild  animal  in  light,  graceful 
bounds  up  the  stairs,  before  he  could  qualify  his  ac 
quiescence. 


SNOW  MAGIC  139 

When  he  came  down  dressed  for  dinner,  Doris  was 
flitting  about  the  library,  waiting  his  coming.  She 
glanced  correctly  around  to  forestall  eavesdroppers, 
and  offered  him  her  cheek. 

"  Is  this  a  skating  costume  ?  "  he  said,  glancing 
quizzically  at  the  trailing,  mysterious  silken  ballgown 
of  lavender  and  gold,  which  enfolded  her  graceful 
figure  like  fragrant  petals.  "  By  the  way,  why  didn't 
you  let  me  know  I  was  to  have  a  rival  ?  " 

"  Don't  be  silly,"  she  said,  brushing  the  powder 
from  his  sleeve.  "  I  was  furious.  It  was  all 
mother's  doings." 

"  Yes,  you  look  furious ! "  he  said  to  tease  her. 
"  Never  mind,  Doris,  General  Managers  must  cal 
culate  on  all  possibilities." 

She  closed  his  lips  with  an  indignant  movement  of 
her  scented  ringers,  looking  at  him  reproachfully. 

"  Bojo,  don't  be  horrid.  Marry  Boskirk  ?  I'd  just 
as  soon  marry  a  mummy.  I  should  be  petrified  with 
boredom  in  a  week." 

"  He's  in  love  with  you." 

"  He  ?  He  couldn't  love  anything.  How  ridicu 
lous!  Heavens,  just  to  think  I'll  have  to  talk  his 
dreary  talk  sends  creeping  things  up  and  down  my 
back." 

Bojo  professed  to  be  unconvinced,  playing  the  of 
fended  and  jealous  lover,  not  perhaps  without  an 
ulterior  motive,  and  they  were  in  the  midst  of  a  little 
tiff  when  the  others  arrived.  Mrs.  Drake  did  not  dare 
to  isolate  him  completely,  but  she  placed  Boskirk  on 
Doris's  right,  and  to  carry  out  his  assumed  irritation 
Bojo  devoted  himself  to  Patsie,  who  rattled  away 
heedless  of  where  her  chatter  hit. 


140  MAKING  MONEY 

Dinner  over,  Bo  jo,  relenting  a  little,  sought  to  or 
ganize  a  general  party,  but  meeting  with  no  success 
went  off,  heedless  of  reproachful  glances,  to  array 
himself  in  sweater  and  boots. 

Twenty  minutes  later  they  were  on  the  toboggan, 
Patsie  tucked  in  front,  laughing  back  at  him  over  her 
shoulder  with  the  glee  of  the  escapade.  Below  them 
the  banked  track  ran  over  the  dim,  white  slopes  glow 
ing  in  the  moonlight. 

"  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  keep  it  from  wobbling 
off  the  track  with  your  foot,"  said  Patsie. 

"  How  are  you  —  warm  enough  ?  Wrap  up 
tight !  "  he  said,  pushing  the  toboggan  forward  until 
it  tilted  on  the  iced  crest.  "  Ready  ?  " 

"Let  her  go!" 

He  flung  himself  down  on  his  side,  her  back  against 
his  shoulder,  and  with  a  shout  they  were  off,  whistling 
into  the  frosty  night,  shooting  down  the  steep  incline, 
faster  and  faster,  rocking  perilously,  as  the  smooth, 
flat  toboggan  rose  from  the  trough  and  tilted  against 
the  inclined  sides,  swerving  back  into  place  at  a  touch 
of  his  foot,  rising  and  falling  with  the  curved  slopes, 
shooting  past  clustered  trees  that  rushed  by  them  like 
inky  storm-clouds,  flashing  smoothly  at  last  on  to  the 
level. 

"  Lean  to  the  left ! "  she  called  to  him,  as  they 
reached  a  banked  curve. 

"When?" 

"  Now !  "  Her  laugh  rang  out  as  they  rose  almost 
on  the  side  and  sped  into  the  bend.  "  Hold  tight, 
there's  a  jump  in  a  minute  —  Now !  " 

Their  bodies  stiffened  against  each  other,  her  hair 
sweeping  into  his  eyes,  blinding  him  as  the  tobog- 


SNOW  MAGIC  141 

gan  rose  fractionally  from  the  ground  and  fell 
again. 

"  Gorgeous !  " 

"Wonderful!" 

They  glided  on  smoothly,  with  slacking  speed,  a  part 
of  the  stillness  that  lay  like  the  soft  fall  of  snow  over 
the  luminous  stretches  and  the  clustered  mysterious 
shadows;  without  a  word  exchanged,  held  by  the 
witchery  of  the  night,  and  the  soft,  fairylike  crackling 
voyage.  Then  gradually,  imperceptibly,  at  last  the 
journey  ended.  The  toboggan  came  to  a  stop  in  a 
glittering  region  of  white  with  a  river  bank  and  elfish 
bushes  somewhere  at  their  side,  and  ahead  a  dark  rise 
against  the  horizon  with  lights  like  pin-pricks  far  off, 
and  on  the  air,  from  nowhere,  the  tinkle  of  sleigh- 
bells,  but  faint,  shaken  by  some  will-o'-the-wisp  per 
haps. 

"  Are  you  glad  you  came  ?  "  she  said  at  last,  without 
moving. 

"  Very  glad." 

"  Think  of  sitting  around  talking  society  when  you 
can  get  out  here,"  she  said  indignantly.  "  Oh,  Bo  jo, 
I'm  never  going  to  stand  it.  I  think  I'll  take  the 
veil." 

He  laughed,  but  softly,  with  the  feeling  of  one  who 
understands,  as  though  in  that  steep  plunge  the  icy  air 
had  cleansed  his  brain  of  all  the  hot,  fierce  worldly 
desires  for  money,  power,  and  vanities  which  had  pos 
sessed  it  like  a  fever. 

"  I  wish  we  could  sit  here  like  this  for  hours,"  she 
said,  unconsciously  resting  against  his  shoulder. 

"  I  wish  we  could,  too,  Drina,"  he  answered,  medi 
tating. 


142  MAKING  MONEY 

She  glanced  back  at  him. 

"  I  like  you  to  call  me  Drina,"  she  said. 

"  Drina  when  you  are  serious,  Patsie  when  you  are 
trying  to  upset  sleighs." 

"  Yes,  there  are  two  sides  of  me,  but  no  one  knows 
the  other."  She  sat  a  moment  as  though  hesitating 
on  a  confidence,  and  suddenly  sprang  up.  "  Game 
for  another  ?  " 

"  A  dozen  others !  " 

They  caught  up  the  rope  together,  but  suddenly 
serious  she  stopped. 

"Bojo?" 

"What?" 

"  Sometimes  I  think  you  and  Dens  are  not  a  bit  in 
love." 

"  What  makes  you  think  that?  "  he  said,  startled. 

"  I  don't  know  —  you  don't  act  —  not  as  I  would 
act  —  not  as  I  should  think  people  would  act  in  love. 
Am  I  awfully  impertinent?  " 

Troubled,  he  made  no  answer. 

"  Nothing  is  decided,  of  course,"  he  said  at  last, 
rather  surprised  at  the  avowal. 

They  tramped  up  the  hill,  averting  their  heads  oc 
casionally  as  truant  gusts  of  wind  whirled  snc  A'-sprays 
in  their  eyes,  chatting  confidentially  on  less  intimate 
subjects. 

"  Let's  go  softly  and  peek  in,"  she  said,  returning 
into  her  mischeivous  self  as  the  great  gabled  house 
afire  with  lights  loomed  before  them.  They  stood, 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  peeping  about  a  protecting  tree 
at  the  group  in  the  drawing-room.  Mr.  Drake  was 
reading  under  the  lamp,  Fred  and  Gladys  ensconced 


SNOW  MAGIC  143 

in  the  bay  window,  while  Doris  at  the  phonograph  had 
resorted  to  Caruso. 

"  Heavens,  what  an  orgy !  —  Sh-h.     Hurry  now." 

A  second  time  they  went  plunging  into  the  night, 
close  together,  more  sober,  the  silence  cut  only  by  the 
hissing  rush  and  an  occasional  warning  from  Drina 
as  each  obstacle  sprang  past.  But  her  voice  was  no 
longer  hilarious  with  the  glee  of  a  child;  it  was  at 
tuned  to  the  hush  and  slumber  of  the  countryside. 

"  I  hate  the  city !  "  she  said  rebelliously  when  again 
they  had  come  to  a  stop.  "  I  hate  the  life  they  want 
me  to  lead." 

All  at  once  a  quick  resentment  came  to  him,  at  the 
thought  that  she  should  change  and  be  turned  into 
worldly  ways. 

"  I'm  afraid  you're  not  made  for  a  social  career, 
Patsie,"  he  said  slowly.  "  I  would  hate  to  think  of 
your  being  different." 

"  You  can't  say  what  you  want,  or  do  what  you 
want,  or  let  people  know  what  you  feel,"  she  said  in  an 
outburst.  "  Just  let  them  try  to  marry  me  off  to  any 
old  duke  or  count  and  see  what'll  happen !  " 

"  Why,  no  one  wants  to  marry  you  off  yet,  Patsie," 
he  said  in  dismay. 

"  I'm  not  so  sure."  She  was  silent  a  moment. 
"  Do  you  think  it's  awful  to  hate  your  family  —  not 
Dad,  but  all  the  rest  —  to  want  to  run  away,  and  be 
yourself  —  be  natural?  Well,  that's  just  the  way  I 
feel!" 

"  Is  that  the  way  you  feel  ?  "  he  said  slowly. 

She  nodded,  looking  away. 

"  I  want  to  be  real,  Bojo."     She  shuddered.     "  I 


144  MAKING  MONEY 

know  Dolly's  unhappy  —  there  was  some  one  she  did 
care  for  —  I  know.  It  must  be  terrible  to  marry 
like  that  —  terrible !  It  would  kill  me  —  oh,  I  know 
it!" 

They  were  silent ;  come  to  that  moment  where  secret 
carriers  are  near,  she  still  a  little  shy,  he  afraid  of  him 
self. 

"  We  must  go  back  now,"  he  said  after  a  long  pause. 
"  We  must,  Drina." 

"  Oh,  must  we !  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Will  you  come  out  to-morrow  night?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  he  said  confusedly. 

He  held  out  his  hand  and  raised  her  to  her  feet. 

"  Come." 

"  I  don't  want  to  go  back,"  she  said,  yielding  re 
luctantly.  She  threw  out  her  arms,  drawing  a  long 
breath,  her  head  flung  back  in  the  path  of  the  moon 
beams  with  the  unconscious  instinct  of  the  young  girl 
for  enchanting  the  male.  "  You  don't  want  to  go 
either.  Now  do  you?  " 

He  made  no  reply,  fidgeting  with  the  rope. 

"  Now  be  nice  and  say  you  don't !  " 

"  No,  I  don't,"  he  said  abruptly. 

"Drina?" 

"  Drina." 

She  took  his  arm,  laughing  a  low,  pleased  laugh, 
quite  unconscious  of  all  the  havoc  she  was  causing, 
never  analyzing  the  moods  of  the  night  and  the  soul 
which  were  stealing  over  her  too  in  an  uncompre- 
hended  happiness. 

"  I  think  I  could  tell  you  anything,  Bojo,"  she  said 


'Drina,     dear     child,'     he     said     in     a  whisper " — Page    145 


SNOW  MAGIC  145 

gently.  "  You  seem  to  understand,  and  so  much  that 
I  don't  say  too !  " 

All  at  once  she  slipped  and  flung  back  against  him 
to  avoid  falling.  He  held  her  thus  —  his  arm  around 
her. 

"  Turn  your  ankle  ?     Hurt  ?  " 

"  No,  no  —  ouf !  " 

A  galloping  gust  came  tearing  over  the  snow,  whirl 
ing  white  spirals,  showering  them  with  a  myriad  of 
tiny,  pointed  crystal  sparks,  stinging  their  cheeks  and 
blinding  their  eyes.  With  a  laugh  she  turned  her  head 
away  and  shrank  up  close  to  him,  still  in  the  protection 
of  his  arms.  The  gust  fled  romping  away  and  still 
they  stood,  suddenly  hushed,  clinging  with  half-closed 
eyes.  She  sought  to  free  herself,  felt  his  arms  re 
taining  her,  glanced  up  frightened,  and  then  yielded, 
swaying  against  him. 

"  Drina  —  dear  child,"  he  said  in  a  whisper  that 
was  wrenched  from  his  soul.  Such  a  sensation  of 
warmth  and  gladness,  of  life  and  joy,  entered  his  be 
ing  that  all  other  thoughts  disappeared  tumultuously, 
as  he  held  her  thus  in  his  arms,  there  alone  in  the 
silence  and  the  luminous  night,  reveling  wildly  in  the 
knowledge  that  the  same  inevitable  impulse  had  drawn 
her  also  to  him. 

"  Oh,  Bojo,  we  mustn't,  we  can't!  " 

The  cry  had  so  much  young  sorrow  in  it  as  he 
drew  away  that  a  pain  went  through  his  heart  to  have 
brought  this  suffering. 

"  Drina,  forgive  me.  I  wouldn't  hurt  you  —  I 
couldn't  help  it  —  I  didn't  know  what  happened,"  he 
said  brokenly. 


146  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Don't  —  you  couldn't  help  it  —  or  I  either.  I 
don't  blame  you  —  no,  no,  I  don't  blame  you,"  she 
said  impulsively,  her  eyes  wet,  her  hands  fervently 
clasped.  He  did  not  dare  meet  her  glance,  his  brain 
in  a  riot. 

"  We  must  go  back,"  he  said  hastily,  and  they  went 
in  silence. 

When  they  returned  Patsie  disappeared.  He  en 
tered  the  drawing-room  and,  though  for  the  first  time 
he  felt  how  false  his  position  was,  even  with  a  feeling 
of  guilt,  he  was  surprised  at  the  sudden  wave  of  kind 
liness  and  sympathy  that  swept  over  him  as  he  took 
his  place  by  Doris. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

BOJO    MAKES   A   DECISION 

HP  HE  next  morning  Patsie  persistently  avoided  him. 
1  Instead  of  joining  the  skaters  on  the  pond,  she 
went  off  for  a  long  excursion  across  country  on  her 
skis,  followed  by  her  faithful  bodyguard  of  Romp 
and  three  different  varieties  of  terrier.  Bojo  came 
upon  her  suddenly  quite  by  accident  on  her  return. 
She  was  coming  up  the  great  winding  stairway,  not 
like  a  whirlwind,  but  heavily,  her  head  down  and 
thoughtful,  heedless  of  the  dogs  that  tumbled  over 
each  other  for  the  privilege  of  reaching  her  hand. 
At  the  sight  of  him  she  stopped  instinctively,  blush 
ing  red  before  she  could  master  her  emotions. 

He  came  to  her  directly,  holding  out  his  hand,  over 
come  by  the  thought  of  the  pain  he  had  unwittingly 
caused  her,  seeking  the  proper  words,  quite  helpless 
and  embarrassed.  She  took  his  hand  and  looked 
away,  her  lips  trembling. 

"  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you,"  he  said  stupidly. 
"  We're  pals,  good  pals,  you  know,  and  nothing  can 
change  that." 

She  nodded  without  looking  at  him,  slowly  with 
drawing  her  hand.  He  rushed  on  heedlessly,  imbued 
with  only  one  idea  —  to  let  her  know  at  all  costs  how 
much  her  opinion  of  him  mattered. 

"  Don't  think  badly  of  me,   Patsie.     I  wouldn't 

147 


148  MAKING  MONEY 

bring  you  any  sorrow  for  all  the  world.  What  you 
think  means  an  awful  lot  to  me."  He  hesitated,  fear 
ing  to  say  too  much,  and  then  blurted  out :  "  Don't 
turn  against  me,  Drina,  whatever  you  do." 

She  turned  quickly  at  the  name,  looked  at  him  stead 
ily  a  moment,  and  shook  her  head,  trying  to  smile. 

"Never,  Bojo  —  never  th,  :.  I  couldn't,"  she 
said,  and  hurriedly  went  up  the  stairs. 

A  lump  came  to  his  throat ;  something  wildly,  sav 
agely  delirious,  seemed  to  be  pumping  inside  of  him. 
He  could  not  go  back  to  the  others  at  once.  He  felt 
suffocated,  in  a  whirl,  with  the  need  of  mastering  him 
self,  of  bringing  all  the  unruly,  triumphant  impulses 
that  were  noting  through  his  brain  back  to  calm  and 
discipline. 

At  luncheon,  Patsie  proposed  an  excursion  in  cut 
ters,  claiming  Mr.  Boskirk  as  her  partner,  and  with  a 
feeling  almost  of  guilt  he  seconded  the  proposal,  un 
derstanding  her  desire  to  throw  him  with  Doris. 
DeLancy  and  Gladys  Stone  started  first,  after  taking 
careful  instructions  for  the  way  to  their  rendezvous 
at  Simpson's  cider-mill  —  instructions  which  every 
one  knew  they  had  not  the  slightest  intention  of  fol 
lowing.  Boskirk,  with  the  best  face  he  could  muster, 
went  off  with  Patsie,  who  disappeared  like  a  runaway 
engine,  chased  by  a  howling  brigade  of  dogs,  while 
Bojo  and  Doris  followed  presently  at  a  sane  pace. 

"  We  sha'n't  see  Gladys  and  Fred,"  said  Doris, 
laughing.  "  No  matter.  They're  engaged !  " 

"  As  though  that  were  news  to  me." 

"Did  he  tell  you?" 

"  I  guessed.     Last  night  in  the  conservatory."     He 


BOJO  MAKES  A  DECISION  149 

added  with  a  sudden  feeling  of  good  will :  "  Gladys 
is  much  nicer  than  I  thought,  really." 

"  She's  awfully  in  love.     I'm  so  glad." 

"  When  will  it  be  announced  ?  " 

"  Next  week." 

"  Heaven  be  praised !  " 

In  a  desire  to  come  to  a  more  intimate  sharing 
of  confidences  he, told  her  of  his  fears. 

"  Louise  Varney,  a  vaudeville  actress !  "  said  Doris, 
with  a  figurative  drawing  in  of  her  skirts. 

"  Oh,  there's  nothing  against  her,"  he  protested, 
"  excepting  perhaps  her  chaperone !  Only  Fred's  sus 
ceptible,  you  know  —  terribly  so  —  and  easily  led." 

"  Yes,  but  people  don't  marry  such  persons  —  you 
can  get  infatuated  and  all  that  —  but  you  don't  marry 
them ! "  she  said  indignantly.  She  shrugged  her 
shoulders.  "  It's  all  right  to  be  —  to  be  a  man  of  the 
world,  but  not  that !  " 

He  hesitated,  afraid  of  going  further,  of  finding  a 
sudden  disillusionment  in  the  worldly  attitude  her 
words  implied.  A  certain  remorse,  a  feeling  of  loy 
alty  betrayed  impelled  him  on,  as  though  all  danger 
could  be  avoided  by  forever  settling  his  future.  Their 
conversation  by  degrees  assumed  a  more  intimate  turn, 
until  at  length  they  came  to  speak  of  themselves. 

"  Doris,  I  have  something  to  ask  you,"  he  said, 
plunging  in  miserably.  "  We  have  never  really  — 
formally  been  engaged,  have  we?  " 

"  The  idea!  Of  course  we  have,"  she  said,  laugh 
ing.  "  It's  only  you  who  wouldn't  have  it  announced 
because  —  because  you  were  too  proud  or  some  other 
ridiculous  reason!" 


150  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Well,  now  I  want  it  announced."  He  met  her 
glance  and  added :  "  And  I  want  you  to  announce  at 
the  same  time  the  date  of  the  wedding." 

He  had  said  it  —  irrevocably  decided  for  the  path 
of  conscience  and  loyalty,  and  it  seemed  to  him  as 
though  a  great  load  had  shifted  from  his  shoulders. 

"Bojo!     Do  you  mean  —  now,  soon!" 

"  Just  that.  Doris,  when  this  deal  is  settled  up  — 
and  I'll  know  this  week  —  I'm  going  to  have  close  on 
to  two  hundred  thousand  —  on  my  own  hook,  not 
counting  what  I'll  get  from  the  pool.  I've  plunged. 
I've  put  every  cent  I  had  in  it  or  could  borrow,"  he 
said  hastily,  avoiding  an  explanation  of  just  what  he 
had  done.  "  I've  risked  everything  on  the  turn  — " 

"But  supposing  something  went  wrong?" 

"  It  won't !  This  week,  we're  going  to  hammer 
Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  down  below  thirty:  I 
know.  The  point  is  now  —  when  that's  all  safe  — 
I  want  you  to  marry  me." 

"  I  have  a  quarter  of  a  million  in  my  own  name. 
Father  gave  us  each  that  three  years  ago." 

He  hesitated. 

"  Do  you  need  that  very  much  ?  I'd  rather  you'd 
start  - 

"Oh,  Bojo,  why?  If  you've  got  that,  why 
shouldn't  I?" 

He  wavered  before  this  argument. 

"  I  would  rather,  Doris,  we  started  on  less,  on  what 
I  myself  have  got.  I've  thought  it  over  a  good  deal. 
I  think  it  would  mean  a  great  deal  to  us  to  start  out 
that  way  —  to  have  me  feel  you  were  by  my  side,  help 
ing  me.  It  is  pride,  but  pride  means  all  to  a  man, 
Doris." 


BOJO  MAKES  A  DECISION  151 

"  If  I  only  used  it  for  dresses  and  jewels  —  just  for 
myself  ?  "  she  said  after  a  moment.  "  You  want  me 
to  look  as  beautiful  as  the  other  women,  and  we 
aren't  going  to  drop  out  of  society,  are  we?  " 

"  No.     Keep  it  then,"  he  said  abruptly. 

"  I  won't  take  a  cent  from  father,"  she  said  vir 
tuously,  and  was  furious  when  he  laughed. 

"  And  you  are  willing  to  give  up  all  the  rest,  now, 
and  be  just  plain  Mrs.  Crocker?" 

She  nodded,  watching  him  askance. 

"When?" 

"  In  May  at  the  close  of  the  social  season  —  butter- 
fly." 

He  had  begun  with  a  hunger  in  his  heart  to  reach 
depths  in  hers,  and  he  ended  with  laughter,  with  a 
feeling  of  being  defrauded. 

They  stopped  at  Simpson's  for  a  cool  drink  of  cider 
and  were  off  again,  passing  through  wintry  forests, 
with  green  Christmas  trees  against  the  creamy 
stretches  where  rabbit  paths  ran  into  dark  entangle 
ments.  All  at  once  they  were  in  the  open  again, 
sweeping  through  a  sudden  factory  village,  Jenkins- 
town,  stagnant  with  the  exhaustion  of  the  Sunday's 
rest. 

"  There,  aren't  you  glad  you  didn't  begin  there?  " 
she  said  gaily,  with  a  flick  of  the  whip  toward  the 
grim  gray  line  of  barracks  that  crowded  against  the 
street. 

"  You  never  would  have  married  me  then,"  he  said, 
nodding  wisely. 

"  Oh,  ask  me  anything  but  to  be  poor! "  she  said, 
shuddering. 

"  She  might  at  least  have  lied,"  he  thought  grimly. 


152  MAKING  MONEY 

He  gazed  with  curiosity  at  this  glimpse  of  factory 
life,  at  the  dulled  faces  of  women,  wrapped  in  gay 
shawls,  staring  at  them;  at  the  sluggish  loiterers  on 
the  corners,  and  the  uncleanly  hordes  of  children,  who 
cried  impertinently  after  them,  recalling  his  father's 
words :  — "  a  great  mixed  horde  to  be  turned  into  in 
telligent,  useful  American  citizens !  "  Squalid  and 
hopelessly  commonplace  it  seemed  to  him,  cruelly  de 
void  of  pleasure  or  joy  in  the  living.  But  such  as 
these  had  placed  him  where  he  was,  with  an  oppor 
tunity  to  turn  in  a  year  what  in  the  lifetime  of  gen 
erations  they  could  never  approach. 

The  spectacle  affected  Doris  like  a  disagreeable 
smell. 

"  I  hate  to  think  such  people  exist,"  she  said,  frown 
ing. 

"  But  they  do  exist,"  he  said  slowly. 

"  Yes,  but  I  don't  want  to  think  of  it.  Heavens, 
to  be  poor  like  that !  " 

"  It's  late ;  we'd  better  be  going  back,"  he  said. 

They  came  back  enveloped  in  the  falling  dusk,  Doris 
running  on  gaily,  quite  delighted  now  at  the  prospect 
of  their  coming  marriage,  making  a  hundred  plans 
for  the  ordering  of  the  establishment,  debating  the 
question  of  an  electric  or  an  open  car  to  start  with, 
the  proper  quarter  to  seek  an  apartment,  and  the  num 
ber  of  servants,  while  Bojo,  silently,  rather  grim,  lis 
tened,  thinking  of  the  look  which  would  come  into 
some  one's  eyes  when  their  decision  was  told. 

At  the  porte-cochere  Gladys  and  Patsie  came  rush 
ing  out  with  frightened  faces.  Fred  had  caught  the 
last  train  home  after  a  call  from  New  York.  Bojo, 


BOJO  MAKES  A  DECISION  153 

with  a  sinking  feeling,  seized  the  note  he  had  left  for 
him. 

Roscy  telephoned.  There's  a  rumor  that  a  group  have  been 
cornering  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  all  this  while.  If  so 
there'll  be  the  devil  to  pay  in  the  morning.  Forshay's  been 
wild  to  get  you.  Get  back  somehow.  If  in  time  get  the  Harlem 
6  .'42  at  Jenkinstown.  In  haste. 

FRED. 

"  Can  I  make  the  6 142  at  Jenkinstown  ?  "  he  cried 
to  the  groom. 

"  Just  about,  sir." 

"  Jump  in." 

"  I'm  so  frightened !  Telephone  at  once !  "  He 
heard  Doris  cry,  and,  hardly  heeding  her  he  looked 
about  vacantly.  Then  something  was  pressed  in  his 
hand  and  Patsie's  voice  was  sounding  in  his  ears. 
"  Here's  your  bag.  I  packed  it.  Keep  up  your  cour 
age,  Bojo!" 

"  Patsie,  you're  a  dear.  Thank  you.  All  right 
now ! "  He  took  her  hands,  met  her  clear  brave 
eyes,  and  sprang  into  the  sleigh.  A  terrible  sicken 
ing  dread  came  over  him,  an  unreasoning  supersti 
tious  dread.  He  felt  ruin  and  worse,  cold  and  damp 
in  the  air  about  him,  ruin  inevitable  from  the  first, 
the  bubble's  collapse  as  he  waved  a  hasty  farewell  and 
shot  away  in  the  race  across  the  night. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE    CRASH 

WHAT  has  happened?"  he  asked  himself  a 
hundred  times  during  the  headlong  drive. 
A  corner  in  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  —  that  was 
possible  but  hardly  probable.  But  if  a  corner  had 
taken  place  it  meant  ruin,  absolute  ruin  —  and  worse. 
The  thought  wyas  too  appalling  to  be  seized  at  once. 
He  reassured  himself  with  specious  explanations. 
There  might  be  a  flurry ;  Gunther  and  his  crowd,  who 
were  in  control  of  the  system,  might  have  attempted 
a  division  to  support  their  property ;  but  the  final  at 
tack  at  which  Joseph  Skelly  had  hinted  more  than 
once  as  timed  for  the  coming  week,  the  throwing  on 
the  market  of  100,000  shares  —  200,000  if  necessary 
—  must  overwhelm  this  support,  must  overwhelm  it. 
What  was  terrible,  though,  was  the  unknown  —  to  be 
hours  from  New  York,  cut  off  from  communication, 
and  not  to  know  \vhat  was  this  shapeless  dread. 

When  they  swung  into  Jenkinstown,  orange  lights 
from  the  windows  cut  up  the  snowbound  streets  in 
checkerboard  patterns  of  light  and  shade :  an  organ 
was  beginning  in  mournful  bass  from  a  shanty 
church ;  a  cheap  phonograph  in  a  flickering  ice-cream 
parlor  was  grinding  out  a  ragged  march.  Through 
the  windows,  heavy  parties  still  at  the  Sunday  news 
papers  were  gathered  under  swinging  lamps.  The 

154 


THE  CRASH  155 

cutter  drew  up  by  the  hovel  of  a  station  and  departed, 
leaving  him  alone  in  the  semi-darkness,  a  prey  to  his 
thoughts.  A  group  returning  after  a  day's  visit 
trudged  past  him,  laughing  uproariously,  Slavic  and 
brutish  in  type,  the  women  in  imitated  finery,  gazing 
at  him  in  insolent  curiosity.  He  began  to  walk  to 
escape  the  dismal  sense  of  unlovely  existence  they 
brought  him.  Beyond  were  the  mathematical  rows 
of  barracks  —  other  brutish  lives,  the  bleak  ice-cream 
parlor,  the  melancholy  of  the  evening  service.  It  was 
all  so  one-sided,  obsessed  by  the  one  idea  of  labor, 
lacking  in  the  simplest  direction  toward  any  compre 
hension  of  the  enjoyment  of  life. 

The  crisis  he  had  reached,  the  threatened  descent 
from  the  sublime  to  the  ridiculous,  brought  with  it 
that  contrition  which  in  men  is  a  superstitious  seeking 
for  the  secret  of  their  own  failures  in  some  trans 
gressed  moral  law.  His  own  life  all  at  once  seemed 
cruelly  selfish  and  gluttonous  before  this  bleak  view 
of  the  groping  world  and,  profoundly  stirred  to  self- 
analysis,  he  said  to  himself : 

"  After  all  —  why  am  I  here  —  to  try  and  change 
all  this  a  little  for  the  better  or  to  pass  on  and  out 
without  significance?  "  And  at  the  thought  that  year 
in  and  year  out  these  hundreds  would  go  on,  doomed 
to  this  stagnation,  there  woke  in  him  a  horror,  a 
horror  of  what  it  must  mean  to  fall  back  and  slip 
beneath  the  surface  of  society. 

He  arrived  in  New  York  at  three  in  the  morning, 
after  an  interminable  ride  in  the  jolting,  wheezing 
train,  fervently  awake  in  the  dim  and  draughty  smok 
ing-car  where  strange  human  beings  huddled  over  a 
greasy  pack  of  cards  or  slept  in  drunken  slumber. 


156  MAKING  MONEY 

And  all  during  the  lagging  return  one  thought  kept 
beating  against  his  brain : 

"  Why  didn't  I  close  up  yesterday  —  yesterday  I 
could  have  made  — "  He  closed  his  eyes,  dizzy  with 
the  thought  of  what  he  could  have  netted  yesterday. 
He  said  to  himself  that  he  would  wind  up  everything 
in  the  morning.  And  there  would  still  be  a  profit, 
there  was  still  time  .  .  .  knowing  in  his  heart  that 
disaster  had  already  laid  its  clutching  hand  upon  his 
arm.  The  city  was  quiet  with  an  unearthly,  brood 
ing  quiet  as  he  reached  the  Court,  where  one  light 
still  shone  in  the  window  of  a  returned  reveler. 
Marsh  and  DeLancy  came  hurriedly  out  at  the  sound 
of  his  entrance. 

"  What's  wrong?  "  he  cried  at  the  sight  of  Fred's 
drawn  face. 

"  Everything.  The  city's  full  of  it,"  said  Marsh. 
"  It  leaked  out  this  afternoon,  or  rather  the  Gunther 
crowd  let  it  leak  out.  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  will 
declare  an  additional  quarterly  dividend  to-morrow." 

"  It's  the  end  of  us,"  said  Fred.  "  The  stock  will 
go  kiting  up." 

"  We've  got  to  cover,"  said  Bo  jo. 

"  In  a  crazy  market ?     If  we  can!" 

"  It  may  not  be  true." 

"  I've  got  it  as  direct  as  I  could  get  it,"  said  Marsh, 
shaking  his  head. 

"  Suppose  there  is  a  corner  and  we  have  to  settle 
around  100  or  150?"  said  DeLancy,  staring  nerv 
ously  away. 

There  was  no  need  for  Bo  jo  to  ask  how  deeply  in 
volved  they  were.  He  knew. 

"  Some    one's    been    buying    large    blocks    of    it. 


THE  CRASH  157 

That's  known,"  said  Marsh,  calmer  than  the  rest. 
"  Ten  to  one  it's  Gunther's  crowd.  They  had  the  ad 
vance  information.  Ten  to  one  they've  laid  the  trap 
and  sprung  a  corner." 

"No,  nonsense!  It's  not  as  bad  as  that.  If 
they're  putting  out  an  extra  dividend,  the  stock's 
going  to  jump  up  —  for  a  while.  That's  all.  And 
then  some  one  else  may  have  a  card  up  his  sleeve," 
said  Bo  jo,  fighting  against  conviction. 

"  Call  up  Drake,"  said  Fred. 

Bojo  hesitated.  The  situation  called  for  any 
measure.  He  went  to  the  telephone,  after  long  min 
utes  getting  a  response.  Mr.  Drake  was  out  of  town 
on  a  hunting  trip;  was  not  expected  back  until  the 
following  night.  There  remained  Drake's  agent 
Skelly,  but  a  quick  search  of  the  book  revealed  no 
home  telephone. 

"Can  you  put  up  more  margin?"  asked  Bojo. 

DeLancy  shook  his  head. 

"  I  can,  but  it  may  be  better  to  take  the  loss,"  said 
Marsh.  "  We'll  have  to  wait  and  see.  Quick  work 
to-morrow !  By  the  way,  there's  a  call  for  you  from 
Forshay  to  be  at  the  office  by  eight  o'clock  to-mor 
row.  Well,  let's  get  a  few  winks  of  sleep  if  we  can. 
Luck  of  the  game !  " 

"  I'm  sorry,"  said  Bojo  desperately. 

"  Shut  up.  We're  over  age,"  said  Marsh,  thump 
ing  him  on  the  back,  but  DeLancy  went  to  his  room, 
staring.  The  moment  he  was  gone  Marsh  turned  to 
Bojo.  "  Look  here,  whatever  we  do  we've  got  to 
save  Fred.  You  and  I  can  stand  a  mauling.  Fred's 
caught." 

"If  we  can,"  said  Bojo,  without  letting  him  know 


158  MAKING  MONEY 

how  serious  the  situation  was  for  him.  "  How  deep 
in  is  he?" 

"  Close  to  2,000  shares." 

"  Good  heavens,  where  did  he  get  the  money?  " 

Marsh  looked  serious,  shook  his  head,  and  made 
no  further  reply. 

At  seven  o'clock,  when  Bo  jo  was  struggling  up 
from  a  sleepless  night,  Granning  came  into  his  room, 
awkwardly  sympathetic. 

"  Look  here,  Bojo,  is  it  as  bad  as  the  fellows 
feared?" 

"  Can't  tell,  Granny.     Looks  nasty." 

"  You  in  trouble  too  ?  " 

Bojo  nodded. 

"  I  say,  I've  got  that  bond  for  a  thousand  tucked 
away,"  said  Granning  slowly.  "  Use  it  if  it'll  help 
any." 

"  Bless  your  heart,"  said  Bojo,  really  touched. 
"  It's  not  a  thousand,  Granny,  that'll  help  now.  You 
were  right  —  gambler's  luck !  " 

"  Cut  that  out,"  said  Granning,  shifting  from  foot 
to  foot.  "  I'm  damned  sorry  —  tough  luck,  damned 
tough  luck.  I  wish  I  could  help !  " 

"  You  can't  —  no  use  of  throwing  good  money 
after  bad.  Mighty  white  of  you  all  the  same !  " 

When  he  reached  the  offices,  he  learned  for  the 
first  time  how  deeply  the  firm  had  speculated  on  the 
information  of  Drake's  intentions.  Forshay  was 
cool,  with  the  calm  of  the  sportsman  game  in  the 
face  of  ruin,  but  Flaspoller  and  Hauk  were  frantic 
in  their  denunciations.  It  was  a  trick,  a  stock-job- 


'The  message  was  the  end  of  hope  "—Page  159 


THE  CRASH  159 

bing  device  of  an  inner  circle.  Nothing  could  jus 
tify  an  additional  dividend.  The  common  stock  had 
not  been  on  a  two  per  cent,  basis  more  than  three 
years.  Nothing  justified  it.  Some  one  would  go 
behind  the  bars  for  it!  Forshay  smoked  on,  shrug 
ging  his  shoulders,  rather  contemptuous. 

"  Hit  you  hard  ?  "  he  said  to  Bojo. 

"  Looks  so.     And  you  ?  " 

"  Rather." 

"  You  call  up  Drake.  Maybe  he  come  back,"  said 
Flaspoller,  ungrammatical  in  his  wrath. 

"  He  won't  be  in,"  said  Bojo,  and  for  the  twenti 
eth  time  he  received  the  invariable  answer. 

At  nine  o'clock  Skelly's  office  called  up.  A  clerk 
gave  the  message,  Mr.  Skelly  being  too  occupied. 
Bojo  listened,  hoping  desperately  against  hope,  be 
lieving  in  the  possibility  of  salvation  in  an  enormous 
block  to  be  thrown  on  the  market.  The  message  was 
the  end  of  hope ! 

"  Cancel  selling  orders.  Buy  Pittsburgh  &  New 
Orleans  at  the  market  up  to  20,000  shares." 

He  tried  ineffectively  to  reach  Skelly  personally 
and  then  communicated  the  order  to  the  others,  who 
were  waiting  in  silence. 

"If  Drake's  out,  good-by,"  said  Forshay,  who 
went  to  the  window,  whistling.  "  Well,  let's  save 
what  we  can !  " 

The  realization  of  the  situation  brought  a  sudden 
calm.  Hauk  departed  for  the  floor  of  the  Stock 
Exchange.  The  others  prepared  to  wait. 

"  Match  you  quarters,"  said  Forshay  with  a  laugh. 
He  came  back,  glancing  over  Bo  jo's  shoulder  at  a 


160  MAKING  MONEY 

few  figures  jotted  down  on  a  pad,  reading  off  the 
total:  "  12,350  shares.  I  thought  you  were  in  only 
ten  thousand." 

"  Twenty-three  fifty  Saturday,"  said  Bojo,  staring 
at  the  pad.  "  At  5  per  cent,  margin  too." 

"  Lovely.     What  cleans  you  out?  " 

Bojo  figured  a  moment,  frowned,  consulted  his 
list,  and  finally  announced :  "  Thirty-seven  and  one- 
half  wipes  me  out  nice  and  clean." 

"  I'm  good  for  a  point  higher.  I  say,  there's 
rather  a  rush  on  this  office;  have  you  got  buying  or 
ders  elsewhere?"  Bojo  nodded.  "Good.  Take 
every  chance.  What  did  we  close  at  Saturday, 
thirty-one  and  one-half?" 

"  Thirty-two." 

"  Oh  well,  there's  a  chance."  He  looked  serious  a 
moment,  turning  a  coin  over  and  over  on  his  hand, 
thinking  of  others.  "  No  fool  like  an  old  fool,  Tom. 
If  I've  been  stung  once  I've  been  stung  a  dozen  times! 
It's  winning  the  first  time  that's  bad.  You  can't  for 
get  it  —  the  sensation  of  winning.  Sort  of  your  case 
too,  eh?  Well,  come  on.  I'm  matching  you!  " 

An  hour  later,  with  the  announcement  of  the  ad 
ditional  dividend,  they  stood  together  by  the  tape 
and  watched  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  mount  by 
jerks  and  starts  —  5,000  at  33  —  2,000  at  35//2  — 
1,000  at  34*^  —  4,000  at  35%  —  500  at  34. 

"  Having  a  great  time,  isn't  it  ?  Jumping  all  over 
the  place.  Orders  must  be  thick  as  huckleberries. 
Selling  all  over  the  place  so  fast  they  can't  keep  track 
of  it." 

Flaspoller  came  in  with  the  first  purchase  by  Hauk, 
who  was  having  a  frantic  time  executing  his  orders. 


THE  CRASH  161 

"  I've  bought  2,000  at  34,  thank  God,"  said  Bojo, 
returning  from  the  telephone.  "What's  it  now?" 

"Touched  36:  10,000  at  35^2 — big  orders  are 
coming  in.  Thirty-six  again.  Lovelier  and  love 
lier." 

Back  and  forth  from  telephone  to  ticker  they  went 
without  time  for  luncheon,  elated  at  the  thought  of 
shares  purchased  at  any  price,  grimly  watching  the 
ominous  figures  creep  up  and  up,  mute,  paralyzing  in 
dications  of  the  struggle  and  frenzy  on  the  floor,  where 
brokers  flung  themselves  hoarse  and  screaming  into 
knotted,  swaying  groups  and  telephone-boys  swarmed 
back  and  forth  from  the  booths  like  myriad  angry 
ants  trampled  out  of  their  ant-hills. 

At  two  o'clock  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  had 
reached  42.  An  hour  before  Bojo  had  left  the 
ticker,  waiting  breathlessly  at  the  telephone  for  the 
announcement  of  purchases  that  meant  precious  thou 
sands.  At  two-thirty  the  final  dock  of  500  shares 
came  in  at  42^/2.  Mechanically  he  added  the  new 
figures  to  the  waiting  list.  Of  the  $83,000  in  the  bank 
and  the  $95,000  which  yesterday  summed  up  his 
winnings  on  paper,  he  had  to  his  credit  when  all  ac 
counts  were  squared  hardly  $15,000.  The  rest  had 
collapsed  in  a  morning,  like  a  soap  bubble. 

"Save  anything?"  said  Forshay,  struck  by  the 
.wildness  in  the  young  man's  look. 

"  I  can  settle  my  account  here,  I'm  glad  to  say," 
said  Bojo  with  difficulty.  "  That's  something.  I 
think  I'll  pull  out  with  around  fifteen  thousand. 
Hope  you  did  better." 

"  Thanks,  awfully." 

"Cleaned  out?"  said  Bojo,  startled. 


162  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Beautiful.  Clean.  Well,  good-by,  Tom,  and  — 
better  luck  next  time." 

Bojo  looked  up  hastily,  aghast.  But  Forshay  was 
smiling.  He  nodded  and  went  out. 

Bojo  reached  the  court  still  in  a  daze,  unable  to 
comprehend  where  it  had  all  gone  —  this  fortune  that 
was  on  his  fingers  yesterday.  Yesterday!  If  he 
had  only  closed  up  yesterday!  Then  through  the 
haze  of  his  numbed  sense  of  loss  came  a  poignant, 
terrifying  recall  to  actuality.  He  stood  pledged  to 
Drake  for  the  amount  of  $50,000,  and  he  could  not 
make  good  even  a  third !  If  the  pool  had  been  wiped 
out  —  and  he  had  slight  hopes  of  saving  anything 
there  —  he  would  have  to  procure  $35,000  some 
where,  somehow,  or  face  to  Drake  and  his  own  self- 
respect  that  he  could  not  redeem  his  own  word. 
What  could  he  say,  what  excuse  offer!  If  the  pool 
had  collapsed  —  he  was  dishonored. 

The  realization  came  slowly.  For  a  long  while, 
sitting  in  the  embrasure  of  the  bay  window  —  his 
forehead  against  the  cold  panes,  it  seemed  to  him 
incredible  the  way  he  had  gone  these  last  six  months ; 
as  though  it  had  all  been  a  fever  that  had  peopled 
his  horizon  with  unreal  figures,  phantasies  of  hot 
dreams. 

But  the  unblinkable,  waking  fact  was  there.  His 
word  had  been  pledged  for  $50,000  to  Drake,  to  the 
father  of  the  girl  he  was  to  marry.  Marry !  At  the 
thought  he  laughed  aloud  bitterly.  That,  too,  was  a 
thing  that  had  vanished  in  the  bubble  of  dreams. 
He  thought  of  his  father,  to  whom  he  would  have  to 
go;  but  his  pride  recoiled.  He  would  never  go  to 
him  for  aid  —  a  failure  and  a  bankrupt.  Rather  beg 


THE  CRASH  163 

Drake  on  his  knees  for  time  to  work  out  the  debt 
than  that! 

"  How  did  I  do  it  ?  What  possessed  me !  What 
madness  possessed  me!"  he  said  wearily  again  and 
again. 

At  eight  o'clock,  when  all  the  high  electric  lights 
had  come  out  about  the  blazing  window  of  the  court, 
recalled  by  the  sounds  of  music  from  the  glass-paneled 
restaurant  he  went  out  for  dinner,  wondering  why  his 
friends  had  not  returned.  At  ten  when  he  came  back 
after  long  tramping  of  the  streets,  a  note  was  on  the 
table,  in  Granning's  broad  handwriting. 

Hoped  to  catch  you.  Fred's  gone  off  on  a  tear;  God  knows 
where  he  is.  Roscy  and  I  have  been  trying  to  locate  him  all 
day.  Hope  you  pulled  through,  old  boy. 

GRANNING. 

At  twelve  o'clock,  still  miserably  alone,  tortured 
by  remorse  and  the  thought  of  the  wreck  he  had  un 
wittingly  brought  his  chums,  he  could  bear  the  sus 
pense  of  evasion  no  longer.  He  went  up  to  Drake's 
to  learn  the  worst,  steeled  to  a  full  confession. 

In  the  hall,  as  he  waited  chafing  and  miserable, 
Fontaine,  Gunther's  right-hand  partner,  passed  out 
hurriedly,  jaws  set,  oblivious.  Drake  was  in  the 
library  in  loose  dressing-gown  and  slippers,  a  cigar 
in  his  mouth,  immersed  in  the  usual  contemplation 
of  the  picture  puzzle. 

"  By  George,  he  bears  it  well,"  Bojo  thought  to 
himself,  moved  to  admiration  by  the  calm  of  that 
impassive  figure. 

"  Hello,  Tom,"  he  said,  looking  up,  "  what's 
brought  you  here  at  this  time  of  night?  Anything 
wrong?  " 


164  MAKING  MONEY 

"Wrong?"  said  Bojo  faintly.  "Haven't  you 
heard  about  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans?" 

"Well,  what  about  it?" 

Bojo  gulped  down  something  that  was  in  his  throat, 
steadying  himself  against  the  awful  truth  that  meant 
ruin  and  dishonor  to  him. 

"  Mr.  Drake  —  tell  me  what  I  owe  you  ?  I  want  to 
know  what  I  owe  you,"  he  said  desperately. 

"Owe?     Nothing." 

"But  the  pool?" 

"  Well,  what  about  the  pool  ?  "  said  Drake,  eyeing 
him  closely. 

"  The  pool  to  sell  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans." 

"  Who  said  anything  about  selling !  "  said  Drake 
sharply.  "  The  pool's  all  right."  He  looked  at  him 
a  long  moment,  and  the  boyish  triumph,  suppressed 
too  long,  broke  out  with  the  memory  of  Fontaine's 
visit.  "  I  bought  control  of  Pittsburgh  &  New  Or 
leans  at  eleven  o'clock  this  morning,  and  sold  it  ten 
minutes  ago,  for  what  I  paid  for  it,  plus  —  plus  a 
little  profit  of  ten  million  dollars."  He  paused  long 
enough  to  let  this  sink  into  the  consciousness  of  the 
reeling  young  man  and  added,  smiling :  "  On  a  pro 
rata  basis,  Tom,  your  fifty  thousand  stands  you  in 
just  a  quarter  of  a  million.  I  congratulate  you." 


CHAPTER  XV 

SUDDEN    WEALTH 

YOUR  fifty  thousand  stands  you  in  just  a  quar 
ter  of  a  million." 

The  words  came  to  him  faintly  as  though  shouted 
from  an  incredible  distance.  The  shock  was  too 
acute  for  his  nerves.  He  sought  to  mumble  over  the 
fantastic  news  and  sank  into  a  chair,  sick  with  gid 
diness.  The  next  thing  he  knew  clearly  was  Drake's 
powerful  arm  about  him  and  a  glass  forced  to  his 
lips. 

"  Here,  get  this  down.  Then  steady  up.  Good 
luck  doesn't  kill." 

"  I  thought  they'd  caught  us  —  thought  I  was 
cleaned  out,"  he  said  incoherently. 

"  You  did,  eh  ?  "  said  Drake,  laughing.  "  You 
haven't  much  faith  in  the  old  man." 

Bojo  steadied  himself,  standing  alone.  The  room 
seemed  to  race  about  him  and  in  his  ears  were  strange 
unfixed  sounds.  One  thought  rapped  upon  his  brain 
—  he  was  not  disgraced,  not  dishonored ;  no  one 
would  ever  know  —  Drake  would  never  need  to  know ; 
that  is  if  he  were  careful,  if  he  could  somehow  dis 
simulate  before  that  penetrating  glance. 

"  I  thought  we  were  to  sell  Pittsburgh  &  New  Or 
leans,"  he  said  vacantly,  leaning  against  the  mantel 
piece. 

165 


166  MAKING  MONEY 

"  So  did  a  good  many  others,"  said  Drake  shrewdly. 
"  Sit  down,  till  I  tell  you  about  it.  Head  clearin' 
up?" 

"  It's  rather  a  shock,"  said  Bojo,  trying  to  smile. 
"  I'm  sorry  to  be  such  a  baby." 

"  I  warned  you  not  to  jump  to  conclusions  or  try 
any  flyers,"  said  Drake,  watching  him.  "Of  course 
you  did?" 

Bojo  nodded,  his  glance  on  the  floor. 

"  Well,  write  it  off  against  your  profits  and  charge 
it  up  to  experience,"  said  Drake,  smiling.  "  Store 
this  away  for  the  future  and  use  it  if  you  ever  need  it, 
if  you're  ever  running  a  pool  of  your  own  —  which 
I  hope  you  won't.  It's  been  my  golden  rule  and  I 
paid  a  lot  to  learn  it.  It's  this:  If  you  want  a 
secret  kept,  keep  it  yourself."  He  burst  into  a  round, 
hearty  laugh,  gazing  contentedly  into  the  fire. 
"  Wish  I  could  see  Borneman's  face.  Helped  me  a 
lot,  Borneman  did.  You  see,  Tom,"  he  said,  with  the 
human  need  of  boasting  a  little,  which  allies  such  men 
rather  to  the  child  on  an  adventure  than  to  the  crimi 
nal,  between  whom  they  occupy  an  indefinable  middle 
position,  "  you've  come  in  on  the  drop  of  the  curtain. 
You've  seen  the  finale  of  something  that'll  set  Wall 
Street  stewing  for  years  to  come.  Yes,  by  George, 
it's  the  biggest  bit  of  manipulation  by  a  single  op 
erator  yet !  And  look  at  the  crowd  I  tricked  —  the 
inner  gang,  the  creme  de  la  creme,  Tom  —  exactly 
that!" 

"  I  don't  understand  it,"  said  Bojo,  as  Drake  began 
to  smile,  reflecting  over  remembered  details.  He  him 
self  understood  only  confusedly  the  events  which  had 
been  whirling  about  him. 


SUDDEN  WEALTH  167 

"  Tom,  the  crowd  had  figured  me  out  for  a  trim 
ming,"  said  Drake,  gleefully,  caressing  his  chin. 
"  They  thought  the  time  had  come  to  trim  old  Drake. 
You  see,  they  calculated  I  was  loaded  up  with  stocks, 
crowded  to  busting  and  ready  to  squeal  at  the  slight 
est  squeeze.  Now  getting  rich  on  paper  is  one  thing 
and  getting  rich  in  the  bank's  another.  Any  one 
can  corner  anything  —  but  it's  all-fired  different  to 
get  Mr.  Fly  to  come  down  to  your  parlor  and  take 
some  stock  after  you've  got  it  where  you  want  it. 
That's  what  they  figured.  Dan  Drake  was  loaded 
to  the  sky  with  stocks  that  looked  almighty  good  on 
the  quotation  column,  but  darned  hard  to  swap  for 
cold,  hard  cash.  That's  what  they  figured,  and  the 
strange  part  about  it  is  they  were  right. 

"  But  —  there's  always  a  but  —  they  hadn't  reck 
oned  on  the  fact  that  Mr.  Me  was  expecting  just  what 
they'd  figured  out.  That's  what  I  told  you  was  the 
secret  of  the  game  —  any  game  —  think  the  way  the 
other  man  thinks,  and  then  think  two  jumps  ahead  of 
him.  Now  if  I  was  reasonably  sure  a  certain  power 
ful  gang  was  going  to  put  stocks  down,  and  put  them 
down  hard,  I  might  look  around  to  see  how  that  could 
benefit  me  at  one  end  while  it  was  annoying  me,  al- 
mightily  annoying  me,  at  the  other.  Now  when  them 
coyotes  get  to  juggling  stocks  they  always  like  to 
juggle  stock  they  know  about  —  something  with  a  nice 
little  pink  ribbon  to  it,  with  a  president  and  board  of 
directors  on  the  other  end,  that'll  wriggle  in  the  right 
direction  when  the  coyotes  pull  the  string. 

"  Now  I'd  been  particularly  hankering  after  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans  for  quite  a  while.  It  was  good 
in  their  old  Southern  system,  but  it  looked  mighty 


168  MAKING  MONEY 

better  outside  of  it.  In  independent  hands  it  could 
stir  up  a  lot  of  trouble;  sort  of  like  a  plain  daughter 
in  a  rich  man's  house  —  no  one  notices  her  until  she 
runs  off  with  the  chauffeur.  That  was  my  idea. 
Only  Pittsburgh  was  high.  But  —  again  the  but  —  if 
some  particular  breed  of  coyote  would  be  obliging 
enough  to  run  it  down  along  with  a  lot  of  other  prop 
erties  on  the  market,  I  might  pitch  in  and  help  them 
force  it  down  to  where  I  could  pick  up  what  I  wanted 
from  the  bargain  counter.  See  ?  " 

"  But  you  sold  openly,"  said  Bojo,  amazed. 

"  Exactly.  Sold  it  where  they  could  see  it  and 
bought  it  back  twice  over,  ten  times  over,  where  they 
couldn't.  Very  simple  process.  All  great  processes 
are  simple,  and  it  never  dawned  on  those  monumental 
intelligences  that  they  were  fetchin'  and  carryin'  for 
yours  truly  until  they  woke  up  at  six  o'clock  to-day 
to  find  while  they  were  scrambling  in  the  dark,  the 
chauffeur  had  run  off  with  Miss  Pittsburgh ! " 

He  turned  and  walked  to  the  table  desk,  motioning 
to  Bojo. 

"  Come  over  here,  look  at  it."  He  held  out  a  check 
for  ten  million  dollars.  "  You  don't  see  one  of  those 
fellows  very  often.  Great  man,  Gunther.  When  he's 
got  to  act  he  doesn't  waste  time.  Right  to  the  point. 
*  We  are  satisfied  you  have  control.  What's  your 
terms?  '  '  Ten  millions  and  what  the  stock  cost  me.' 
'  We  accept  your  terms/  Great  man,  Gunther. 
Suppose  I  might  have  added  another  million,  but  it 
wouldn't  have  sounded  as  well,  would  it  ?  Something 
rather  nice  about  costs  and  ten  million ! " 

As  he  spoke,  he  had  drawn  out  his  check-book  and 
filled  out  a  check  to  Bojo. 


SUDDEN  WEALTH  169 

"  Well,  Tom,  this  isn't  ten  millions,  but  it's  some  pin 
money,  and  I  guess  to  you  it  looks  bigger  than  the 
other.  Here  you  are  —  take  it." 

Bojo  took  it  quite  stupidly,  saying: 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you,  sir !  " 

Drake  watched  the  young  man's  emotion  with  tol 
erant  amusement. 

"  Don't  wonder  you're  a  bit  shaken  up,  Tom.  Sup 
posing  you  call  up  a  certain  young  lady  on  long  dis 
tance.  Rather  please  her,  I  reckon." 

"  Why,  yes.  I  wanted  to  do  it.  I  —  I  will,  of 
course." 

"  So  you  thought  I  was  going  to  sell  short  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans,"  said  Drake  with  a  roguish 
humor. 

Bojo  podded,  at  loss  for  words,  biding  the  moment 
to  escape  into  the  outer  air. 

"  But,  of  course,  Tom,"  said  Drake  slowly,  with 
smiling  eyes,  "  you  didn't  tell  any  one,  did  you?  " 

Bojo  mumbled  something  incoherent  and  went  out, 
clutching  the  check,  which  lay  in  his  hand  with  the 
heaviness  of  lead. 

In  the  open  air  he  tried  to  readjust  the  events  of  the 
night.  He  had  a  confused  idea  of  rushing  through 
the  great  hall,  past  the  mechanical  footman,  of  hear 
ing  Thompson  cry,  "  Get  you  a  taxi,  sir!  "  and  of  be 
ing  far  down  resounding  pavements  in  the  lovely 
night  with  something  still  clutched  in  his  hand. 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand,"  he  said  to  him 
self.  He  repeated  it  again  and  again  as  a  sort  of  dull 
drum-beat  accompaniment,  resounding  in  his  ears, 
even  as  his  cane  tapped  out  its  sharp  metallic  punctua 
tion. 


170  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty !"  he  said  for  the  hun 
dredth  time,  utterly  unable  to  comprehend  what  had 
in  one  hour  changed  the  face  of  his  world.  He 
stopped,  drew  his  hand  from  his  pocket,  took  the 
crumpled  check  and  placed  it  in  his  wallet,  buttoned 
his  coat  carefully,  and  then  unbuttoned  it  to  make 
sure  it  had  not  slipped  from  his  pocket. 

Drake  had  not  asked  him  the  vital  question.  He 
had  not  had  to  answer  him,  to  tell  him  what  he  had 
lost,  to  own  that  he  had  gambled  beyond  his  right. 
The  issue  he  had  gone  to  meet,  resolved  on  a  clean 
confession,  had  been  evaded,  and  in  his  pocket  was  the 
check  —  a  fortune !  Certain  facts  did  not  at  once 
focus  in  his  mind,  perhaps  because  he  did  not  want  to 
contemplate  them,  perhaps  because  he  was  too  bewil 
dered  with  his  own  sensations  to  perceive  clearly  what 
a  role  he  had  been  made  to  play. 

But  as  he  swung  down  the  Avenue  past  the  Plaza 
with  its  Argus-eyed  windows  still  awake,  past  a  few 
great  mansions  with  cars  and  grouped  footmen  in  wait 
for  revelers,  at  the  thought  of  the  quiet  Court,  of 
Roscoe  and  Granning,  at  the  sudden  startled  recollec 
tion  of  DeLancy,  the  cold  fact  forced  itself  upon  him; 
they  had  lost  and  he  had  won.  He  had  won  because 
they  had  lost,  and  how  many  others ! 

"How  could  I  help  it?"  he  said  to  himself  un 
easily,  and  answered  it  immediately  with  another 
question  :  "  But  will  they  believe  me?  " 

Suddenly  Drake's  last  question  flashed  across  him 
with  a  new  significance.  "Of  course  you  didn't  tell 
any  one,  did  you  ?  " 

Why  had  he  not  asked  him  then  and  there  what  he 
had  meant?  Because  he  had  been  afraid,  because  he 


SUDDEN  WEALTH  171 

did  not  wish  to  know  the  answer,  just  as  he  had 
evaded  the  knowledge  that  Doris  in  the  first  specu 
lation  had  made  use  of  Boskirk.  Even  now  he  did 
not  wish  to  force  the  ugly  fact  —  seeking  to  put  it 
from  him  with  plausible  reasonings.  After  all,  what 
had  Drake  done?  Told  him  a  lie?  No.  He  had 
specially  cautioned  him  not  to  jump  to  conclusions, 
warned  him  against  doing  anything  on  his  own  initia 
tive. 

"  Yes,  that's  true,"  he  said  with  a  sigh  of  relief,  as 
though  a  great  ethical  question  had  been  disposed  of. 
"  He  played  square,  absolutely  square.  There's  noth 
ing  wrong  in  it." 

Yet  somehow  the  conviction  brought  no  joy  with 
it;  there  was  something  stolen  about  the  sensation 
of  sudden  wealth  which  possessed  him.  He  seemed 
to  be  scurrying  through  the  shadowy  city  almost  like 
a  thief  afraid  of  confrontation. 

Yet  there  was  the  home-coming,  the  friends  to  be 
faced.  What  answer  could  he  make  them,  how  an 
nounce  the  stroke  of  fortune  which  had  come  to  him ! 
On  one  thing  at  least  he  was  resolved,  and  the  reso 
lution  seemed  to  lighten  the  weight  of  many  problems 
which  would  not  slip  from  his  shoulders.  He  was 
responsible  for  Roscy  and  Fred  —  at  least  they  should 
suffer  no  loss  for  having  taken  his  advice.  The 
others  —  Forshay,  the  firm,  one  or  two  acquaintances 
he  had  tipped  off  in  the  last  days,  the  outsiders ;  they 
were  different,  and  besides  he  did  not  want  to  think 
of  them.  His  friends  should  not  suffer  loss  —  not 
even  a  dollar.  They  were  a  part  of  the  pool,  in  a 
way.  Of  course  they  had  had  their  friends,  though 
he  had  sworn  them  to  secrecy.  At  this  point  he 


172  MAKING  MONEY 

stopped  in  his  mental  turnings,  faced  by  a  sudden 
barrier. 

Had  Drake  knowingly  used  him  to  convey  a  false 
impression  of  his  intentions,  made  him  the  instrument 
of  ruining  others  in  order  to  carry  through  his 
stupendous  coup  de  force  ? 

"  If  I  thought  that,"  he  said  hotly,  "  I  wouldn't 
touch  a  cent  of  it!  "  But  after  a  moment,  uneasily 
and  in  doubt,  he  added,  "  I  wonder  ?  " 

He  came  to  the  Court  and  hurried  in.  Lights  were 
blazing  in  the  bay-window,  black  silhouettes  across  the 
panes. 

"  Good  God,  supposing  anything  has  happened  to 
Fred !  "  he  thought,  suddenly  remembering  Granning's 
note.  He  burst  upstairs  and  into  the  room.  Roscoe 
Marsh  was  by  the  fireplace,  gravely  examining  a 
pocket  revolver,  which  lay  in  his  hand.  Granning  was 
on  the  edge  of  the  couch  staring  at  Fred  DeLancy,  who 
was  sunk  in  a  great  chair,  disheveled  and  dirt-stained, 
a  sodden,  cold-drunk  mass. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

BOJO  BEGINS  TO  SPEND  HIS  QUARTER-MILLION 

AT  the  sight  of  Fred  DeLancy,  Bo  jo  checked  him 
self.  A  glance  from  Granning  apprised  him  of 
the  seriousness  of  the  situation.  He  walked  over  to 
the  huddled  figure  and  laid  his  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Hello  there,  Fred.     It's  Bojo." 

DeLancy  raised  his  head,  looked  out  through  glazed 
eyes,  and  slowly  withdrew  his  stare  to  the  vacant 
fireplace,  where  a  smoldering  flicker  drew  his  mind. 

"  Found  him  an  hour  ago  in  a  hell  over  in  Eighth 
Avenue,"  said  Marsh.  "  Bad." 

Granning  beckoned  him,  and  together  they  went  into 
the  bedroom,  closing  the  door. 

"  All  right  now.  Guess  he'll  stay  quiet.  Pretty 
violent  when  we  came  back,"  said  Granning. 
"  Wanted  to  throw  himself  out  of  the  window." 

"  And  the  pistol,"  said  Bojo,  sick  at  the  thought 
of  what  might  have  been. 

"  Yes,  we  found  that  on  him,"  said  Granning 
gravely.  "  Lucky  he  got  drunk  so  quick,  or  that  might 
have  been  serious."  He  hesitated  and  added :  "  He 
swears  he'll  kill  himself  first  chance.  Guess  I'd  bet 
ter  keep  my  eye  on  him  to-night." 

At  this  moment  there  was  the  sound  of  a  scuffle 
from  the  den  and  a  shout  from  Marsh.  They  rushed 
in  to  find  him  grappling  with  Fred,  who  was  striving 

173 


174  MAKING  MONEY 

frantically  to  reach  the  window.  For  a  moment  the 
air  was  full  of  shouts  and  sudden  scurrying. 

"  Look  out,  he's  got  that  paper-cutter !  " 

"  In  his  right  hand." 

"  All  right,  I've  got  him." 

"  Throw  him  over  on  the  couch.  Sit  on  him. 
That's  it." 

Under  their  combined  weights,  DeLancy  was  flung, 
hoarse  and  screaming  maledictions,  to  the  couch, 
where  despite  objurgations  and  ravings  Granning  se 
cured  his  arms  behind  his  back  with  a  strap  and  hob 
bled  his  legs.  For  half  an  hour  Fred  twisted  and 
strove,  raving  and  swearing  or  suddenly  weakly  re 
morseful,  bursting  into  tears,  cursing  himself  and  his 
folly.  The  three  sat  silently,  faces  sternly  masked, 
looking  unwillingly  on  the  ugly  spectacle  of  human 
frenzy  in  the  raw.  At  the  end  of  this  time  DeLancy 
became  suddenly  quiet  and  dropped  off  into  sodden 
sleep. 

"  At  last,"  said  Granning,  rising.  "  Best  thing  for 
him.  Oh,  he  won't  hear  us  —  talk  all  you  like." 

"  How  hard  is  he  hit?  "  said  Bojo  anxiously. 

Marsh  shrugged  his  shoulder  and  swore. 

"  How  hard,  Granning?  " 

"  Twenty  thousand  or  more,"  said  Granning 
gravely,  "  and  there  are  some  bad  sides  to  it."  He 
shook  his  head,  glanced  at  DeLancy,  and  added: 
"  Then  there's  the  girl." 

"  Louise  Varney  ?  " 

"  The  same  —  mother  has  been  camping  on  the  tele 
phone  all  day.  Not  a  very  calm  person,  mother  — 
ugh  —  nasty  business  !  " 

"  Rotten  business,"  said  Bojo,  remorsefully.     He 


BOJO  BEGINS  TO  SPEND  175 

went  to  the  bay-window  and  stood  there  gazing  out 
into  the  sickly  night,  paling  before  the  first  grays  of 
the  morning.  He  was  subdued  by  this  spectacle  of  the 
other  side  of  speculation,  wondering  how  many  similar 
scenes  were  taking  place  in  sleepless  rooms  some 
where  in  the  dusky  flight  of  roof-tops.  Marsh,  mis 
understanding  his  mood,  said : 

"How  did  it  hurt  you?  You  pulled  through  all 
right,  didn't  you  ?  " 

Bojo  came  back  thoughtfully,  evading  the  question 
with  another. 

"And  you?" 

"  Oh,  better  than  I  expected,"  said  Marsh  with 
a  wry  face.  "  I  say,  you're  not  —  not  cleaned 
out?" 

Granning  rose  and  with  his  heavy  hand  turned  him 
around  solicitously.  "  How  about  it,  son  ?  " 

For  hours  Bojo  had  been  debating  his  answer  to 
this  inevitable  question  without  finding  a  solution. 
He  drew  his  pocket-book  and  slowly  extracted  the 
check.  "  Gaze  on  that,"  he  said  solemnly. 

Granning  took  it,  stared  at  it,  and  passed  it  to 
Marsh,  who  looked  up  with  an  exclamation :  "  For 
God's  sake,  what  does  that  mean  ?  " 

"  It  means,"  said  Bojo  slowly,  "  that  I  can  tell  you 
the  truth  now.  We  haven't  lost  a  cent;  on  the  con 
trary — "  he  paused  and  emphasized  the  next  word 
— "  we  have  made  a  killing.  We  means  you,  Fred, 
and  myself." 

"  I  don't  get  it,"  said  Marsh,  frowning. 

"  The  real  object  of  the  pool  was  not  to  bear  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans,  but  to  buy  it.  If  I  let  you 
sell  short,  it  was  only  to  get  others  to  sell  short  To- 


176  MAKING  MONEY 

morrow  I'll  settle  up  with  you  and  Fred,  every  cent 
you've  lost,  plus, — " 

"  Bojo,  you're  lying,"  said  Marsh  abruptly. 

"  I'm  not,  I  — " 

"  And  you're  lying  badly !  " 

"  What  about  that  check?  " 

"  That's  all  right ;  Drake  may  have  done  what  you 
said,  but  you  never  knew  — " 

"  Roscy,  I  swear." 

"  Hold  up  and  answer  this.  Do  you  want  me  to 
believe,  Tom  Crocker,  that  you  deliberately  told  me 
and  Fred  DeLancy,  your  closest  friends,  a  lie,  in 
order  to  get  us  to  spread  false  information  to  our 
friends,  to  ruin  our  friends  in  order  to  make  a  killing 
for  you?  Well,  a  straight  answer." 

Bojo  was  silent. 

"  No,  no,  Bojo,  don't  come  to  me  with  any  cock- 
and-bull  story  like  that — " 

"  Roscy,  it  is  a  lie.  I  was  completely  in  the  dark 
myself;  but  I  won't  touch  a  cent  of  it  until  your 
losses  are  squared,  every  dollar  of  them! " 

"  So  that's  the  game,  eh?"  said  Marsh,  laughing. 
"  Well  you  go  plump  to  the  devil !  " 

"Roscy!"  said  Bojo,  jumping  up  and  seizing  his 
arm.  "  At  least  let  me  square  up  what  you  lost. 
Hold  up.  \Vait  a  second,  don't  go  off  half-cocked! 
Fred's  got  to  be  hauled  out  of  this;  it's  not  only  bank 
ruptcy,  it's  a  darned  sight  worse — it's  his  word,  his 
honor  —  a  woman's  money,  too.  You  know  him  — 
he's  weak,  he  won't  stand  up  under  it.  Good  God, 
you  don't  want  me  to  have  his  life  on  my  con 
science?  " 

"  What  do  you  want  to  do?  " 


BOJO  BEGINS  TO  SPEND  177 

"  I  want  to  make  Fred  believe  what  I  told  you  — 
it's  the  only  way.  If  you  play  into  the  game  he'll 
believe  it.  Good  Lord,  Roscy,  this  thing's  bad 
enough  as  it  is.  You  don't  think  I  could  profit  one 
cent  while  you  fellows  were  cleaned  out  by  my  own 
fault?" 

"  Look  here,"  said  Marsh,  sitting  down,  "  it  isn't 
your  fault.  I  gambled,  that's  all,  and  lost  I  gam 
bled  before  on  your  advice  and  won.  Fifty-fifty, 
that's  all.  Now  Fred's  different.  I'll  admit  it. 
You  can  do  what  you  please  with  him;  that's  be 
tween  you  two.  If  you've  got  to  make  him  believe 
I'm  doing  the  same,  to  make  him  take  the  money  — 
all  right;  but  if  you  come  around  again  to  me  with 
any  such  insulting  proposition,  Tom  Crocker,  there'll 
be  trouble." 

Bo  jo  clasped  and  unclasped  his  hands  in  utter 
helplessness.  Then  he  glanced  at  Granning. 

"  You've  done  what  you  could,"  said  Granning, 
shaking  his  head. 

"  A  rotten  mess.     I  feel  rotten,"  said  Bojo  slowly. 

Marsh,  relenting,  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder  af 
fectionately.  "  Mighty  white  of  you,  Bojo  —  and 
don't  think  for  a  moment  any  one's  blaming  you ! " 

"  I'm  not  sure  how  I  feel  myself,"  said  Bojo  slowly. 

"  Drake  used  you,  Tom,"  said  Granning  quietly. 
"  He'd  figured  out  you'd  be  watched  —  the  old  decoy 
game." 

"  No,  no,"  said  Bojo  warmly.  "  He  did  not,  I'm 
sure  of  that.  He  particularly  warned  me  not  to  do 
anything  on  my  own  hook  without  consulting  him. 
It  was  my  fault  —  I  jumped  at  conclusions !  " 

Granning  and  Marsh  laughed. 


178  MAKING  MONEY 

"  By  George,  if  I  thought  that!  "  said  Bojo,  rising 
up. 

"  Don't  think  anything,"  said  Marsh  quietly. 
"  It's  all  in  the  game  anyhow ! "  Suddenly  he 
stopped  and,  the  journalistic  instinct  awakening,  said: 
"  You  say  Drake  bought  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans 
—  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Bought  control,  of  course,  and  sold  it  back  at 
midnight  to  Gunther  &  Co.  for  a  profit  of  ten  mil 
lions." 

"  Repeat  that,"  said  Marsh,  aghast.  "  Good  Lord ! 
What?  When?  Where  was  the  sale?  For  God's 
sake,  Bojo,  don't  you  know  you've  got  the  biggest 
story  of  the  year?  Three-twenty  now.  It's  '  good 
night  '  to  our  composing-room  at  half  past.  Talk  it 
fast  and  I  can  make  it." 

Hastily,  under  his  prompting1,  Bojo  recalled  de 
tails  and  scraps  of  information.  Three  minutes  later 
Marsh  was  at  the  telephone  and  they  heard  the 
shouted  frantic  orders. 

"  Morning  Post?  Who's  on  the  long  wait  ?  Hill  ? 
Give  him  to  me  —  on  the  jump.  Damn  it,  this  is 
Marsh!  Hello,  Ed?  Hold  your  press  men  for  an 
extra.  We've  got  a  smashing  beat.  Front  page  and 
the  biggest  head  you  can  put  on!  Play  it  up  for  all 
you're  worth.  Ready:  Dan  Drake  bought  control 
.  .  .  '  The  outlines  in  staccato,  dramatic  sentences, 
followed,  then  directions  to  get  Gunther,  Drake,  Fon 
taine,  and  others  on  the  wire.  Then  silence,  and 
Marsh  burst  through  the  room  and  down  the  stairs 
in  a  racket  that  threatened  to  wake  the  house. 

Granning  and  Bojo  sat  on,  watching  the  restless, 
heavy  figure  on  the  couch,  too  feverishly  awake  for 


BOJO  BEGINS  TO  SPEND  179 

sleep,  talking  in  broken  phrases,  while  the  white  mists 
came  into  the  room  and  the  city  began  to  wake.  At 
four  o'clock  Doris  called  up  from  long  distance. 
Bo  jo  had  completely  forgotten  her  in  the  tension  of 
the  night  and  rather  guiltily  hastened  to  reassure  her. 
Gladys  was  at  her  side,  anxious  to  hear  from  Fred,  to 
learn  if  she  might  come  to  his  assistance,  wondering 
why  he  had  not  sent  her  word  —  alarmed. 

He  invented  a  lie  to  clear  the  situation  —  a  friend 
who  was  in  desperate  straits  —  with  whom  Fred  was 
watching  out  the  night. 

At  six  o'clock  DeLancy  rose  up  suddenly,  dishev 
eled  and  haggard,  staring  at  them,  bewildered  at  the 
pressure  of  the  straps.  "  What  the  devil's  hap 
pened  ?  " 

Granning  rose  and  released  him.  "  You  were 
rather  obstreperous  last  night,  young  man,"  he  said 
quietly.  "  We  were  afraid  you  might  dent  the  fire- 
escape  or  carry  off  the  mantel.  How  are  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  good  God !  "  said  DeLancy,  sinking  his  head 
in  his  hands  with  a  groan,  suddenly  recalling  the 
pool. 

"If  you  hadn't  gone  off  like  a  bad  Indian,"  said 
Bo  jo  sternly,  "  you'd  be  celebrating  in  a  different 
way."  Then,  as  Fred  without  interest  continued  ob 
livious,  he  went  over  and  struck  him  a  resounding 
blow  between  the  shoulders.  "  Wake  up  there.  I've 
been  trying  to  beat  it  into  you  all  night.  We  haven't 
lost  a  cent.  The  pool  went  through  like  a  charm. 
Drake  fooled  the  whole  bunch !  " 

"  What  —  what  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  DeLancy, 
staring  up. 

"  The  running  down  was  only  the  first  step ;  the 


180  MAKING  MONEY 

real  game  was  to  buy  up  the  control.  All  our  selling 
short  was  just  bluff,  charged  up  to  the  expense  ac 
count  and  nothing  else." 

"  All  bluff,"  repeated  Fred  in  a  daze.  "  I  don't 
seem  to  understand.  I  can't  get  it." 

"  Well,  get  this  then  —  feast  your  eyes  on  it,"  said 
Bojo,  sitting  beside  him,  his  arm  about  his  shoulder 
and  the  check  held  before  his  eyes.  "  That's  profit 
—  my  part  out  of  ten  millions  Drake  cleaned  up  by 
selling  out  to  the  Gunther  crowd.  Listen."  He  re 
peated  in  detail  the  story  of  the  night,  adding: 
"  Now  do  you  see  it  ?  Every  cent  we  lost  bearing  the 
stock  goes  to  expenses  —  that's  understood." 

"  You  mean  —  DeLancy  rose,  steadied  himself, 
and  lurched  against  a  chair.  "  You  mean  what  I 
lost  —  what  I  — " 

"  What  you've  lost  and  Louise's  losses,  too,"  said 
Bojo  quickly  — "  every  cent  is  paid  by  the  pool. 
There  wasn't  the  slightest  question  about  that!" 

"Is  that  the  truth?" 

"  Yes." 

Fred's  sunken  eyes  rested  on  Bojo's  an  intermi 
nable  moment,  and  the  agony  written  on  that  fevered 
face  steeled  Crocker  in  his  resolve.  Presently  De 
Lancy,  as  though  convinced,  turned  away. 

"  Good  Lord,  I  thought  I  was  done  for !  "  he  said 
in  a  whisper.  His  lip  trembled,  he  caught  at  his 
throat,  and  the  next  moment  his  racked  body  was 
shaken  with  convulsive  sobs. 

"Let  yourself  go,  Fred;  it's  all  right  —  every 
thing's  all  right,"  said  Bojo  hastily.  He  left  the  den, 
nodding  to  Granning,  and  went  to  his  bedroom.  His 
bag  was  still  on  the  bed,  where  he  had  thrown  it  un- 


BOJO  BEGINS  TO  SPEND  181 

opened.  He  took  out  his  clothes  mechanically,  feel 
ing  the  weariness  of  the  wasted  night,  and  suddenly 
on  the  top  of  a  folded  jacket  he  found  a  card,  in 
Patsie's  writing;  a  few  words  only,  timidly  offered. 

"  I  hope,  oh,  I  do  hope  everything  will  come  all 
right,"  and  below  these  two  lines  that  started  reveries 
in  his  eyes,  the  signature  was  not  "  Patsie,"  but 
"  Drina." 

When  he  came  into  the  den  again  after  a  hasty 
toilet,  DeLancy  had  got  hold  of  himself  again. 

"Better,  old  boy?"  said  Bojo,  pulling  his  ear. 

"If  you  knew  —  if  you  knew  what  I'd  been 
through,"  said  Fred  with  a  quick  breath. 

"  I  know,"  said  Bojo,  shuddering  instinctively. 
"  Now  let's  get  to  business.  You'll  feel  a  lot  better 
when  you  tidy  up  your  bank  account.  What  did  you 
lose?" 

"  I  say,  Bojo,"  said  DeLancy,  avoiding  his  glance, 
"  on  your  honor  —  straight  —  this  is  all  right,  isn't 
it?" 

"  Sure ! " 

"  I  ought  to  take  it  —  there's  no  reason  why  — 
you're  not  telling  me  a  fake  story?  " 

"  I  certainly  am  not,"  said  Bojo  cheerily,  taking  up 
his  check-book  at  the  desk.  "  Come  on  now." 

But  DeLancy,  unconvinced,  still  wavered. 

"How  about  Roscy?"  he  said  slowly,  his  eyes 
fixed,  his  mouth  parted  as  though  hanging  on  the 
answer. 

"  The  same  thing  goes  with  Roscy,  naturally,"  said 
Bojo  carelessly. 

DeLancy  drew  a  long  breath  and  approached. 

"  How  much?     Confess  up!  " 


182  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Twenty-seven  thousand  eight  hundred." 

Bo  jo  restrained  a  start  of  amazement. 

"  Say  twenty-eight  flat,"  he  said  carefully.  "  Does 
that  include  Louise  Varney's  account  ?  " 

"  Yes,  everything,"  said  DeLancy  slowly.  He 
stood  at  the  desk,  staring,  while  Bo  jo  wrote  a  check, 
watching  the  traveling  pen  as  though  still  incredu 
lous. 

"  There  you  are,  old  rooster,  and  good  luck,"  said 
Bo  jo. 

"  Here,  I  say,  you've  made  it  out  for  thirty-eight 
thousand,"  said  DeLancy,  taking  the  check. 

"  Ten  thousand  is  profits,  sure." 

"  Here,  I  say,  that's  not  right.  I  couldn't  take 
that  —  no,  never,  Bojo !  " 

"  Shut  up  and  be  off  with  you ! "  said  Bojo. 
"  You  don't  think  for  a  moment  I'd  use  my  friends 
and  not  see  they  got  a  share  of  the  winnings,  do 
you?" 

"  It  doesn't  seem  right,"  said  DeLancy  again.  He 
gazed  at  the  check,  a  prey  to  conflicting  desires. 

"Rats!" 

"  I  don't  feel  as  though  I  ought  to." 

Bojo,  watching  his  struggle  with  his  conscience  a 
moment,  perceived  the  inherent  weakness  at  the  bot 
tom  of  his  nature,  suddenly  feeling  a  sense  of  dis 
tance  intervening  in  the  old  friendship,  sadly  disil 
lusioned.  When  he  spoke,  it  was  abruptly,  as  a 
superior : 

"  Shut  up,  Fred  —  you're  going  to  take  it,  and 
that's  all!" 

"  How  can  I  thank  you  ?  " 

"  Don't." 


BOJO  BEGINS  TO  SPEND  183 

He  turned  on  his  heel  and  went  back  to  his  room 
to  hide  the  flash  of  scorn  that  came  to  his  eyes. 
"  Great  Heavens,"  he  thought,  "  is  that  the  way  men 
behave  under  great  tests  ?  " 

But  all  at  once  he  added,  "  And  myself?  " 

For  at  the  bottom  there  was  an  uneasy  stirring 
feeling,  awakened  by  the  sudden  incredulous  laugh  of 
his  friends  that  had  greeted  his  assertion  of  Drake's 
innocence,  which  was  bringing  him  to  a  realization 
that  he  was  to  face  a  decision  more  profoundly  sig 
nificant  to  his  own  self-esteem  than  any  he  had  yet 
confronted. 

"  Thank  heaven  for  one  thing  —  nothing  happened 
to  Fred !  That's  settled.  I  have  nothing  on  my  con 
science,"  he  said  with  a  sigh.  The  ten  thousand  he 
had  added  represented  in  a  confused  way  a  tribute 
to  that  conscience,  to  those  others,  unknown  and  un- 
visualized,  whom  unwittingly  he  might  have  caused 
to  suffer. 

"Bojo!" 

"Hello!     What  is  it?" 

He  came  out  hurriedly  at  the  sound  of  Granning's 
voice. 

"  Roscy  on  the  'phone.  .  .  .  What  ?  .  .  .  Good 
God !  " 

"What's  that?  What's  happened?"  he  cried,  as 
Fred  came  rushing  out. 

"  Forshay  —  committed  suicide  —  this  morning  — 
at  his  club  —  cut  his  throat !  " 


CHAPTER  XVII 

PAYING   THE    PIPER PLUS 

TO  go  down  to  the  office  with  the  pall  of  disaster 
and  tragedy  over  it,  to  face  the  accusatory  looks 
of  Hauk  and  Flaspoller  with  the  dread  consciousness 
of  his  own  personal  responsibility,  was  the  hardest 
thing  Bo  jo  had  ever  had  to  do.  Several  times  in  the 
subway,  filled  with  the  Wall  Street  crowd  excitedly 
discussing  the  sudden  turn  of  yesterday,  alarmed  for 
the  future,  he  had  a  wild  impulse  toward  flight.  Be 
fore  him  wrere  the  startling  scare-heads  of  the  Morn 
ing  Post,  the  sole  paper  to  have  the  story. 

DRAKE  BUYS  AND  SELLS  PITTSBURGH 
AND  NEW  ORLEANS 

SECURED     CONTROL    AT    6     MONDAY.       SOLD    AT     MID 
NIGHT.       PROFIT    IN    MILLIONS.       BROKERS    HARD 
HIT.       THREE    FIRMS    SUSPEND.       CLIMAX 
OF    DRAMATIC    DAY. 

He  saw  only  dimly  what  every  one  else  was  poring 
over  frantically.  He  was  reading  over  for  the  twen 
tieth  time  the  ugly  story  of  Forshay's  suicide. 

WELL-KNOWN  BROKER  ENDS  LIFE 

AT  CLUB 

W.  O.  FORSHAY  THOUGHT  TO  HAVE  BEEN  CAUGHT  IN 
DRAKE'S  CLEAN  UP 

184 


PAYING  THE  PIPER  — PLUS  185 

The  bare  facts  followed,  with  a  history  of  For- 
shay's  career,  his  social  connections,  an  account  of  his 
marriage,  city  house,  and  country  house. 

"  But  after  all  am  I  responsible?  "  he  said  to  him 
self  miserably,  and  though  he  returned  always  to  the 
premise  that  he  had  been  an  innocent  participant,  he 
began  to  be  obsessed  with  the  spreading  sense  of  ruin 
which  such  victories  could  occasion. 

Forshay  would  not  have  blamed  him,  perhaps,  for 
Forshay  had  played  the  game  to  the  limit  of  the  law 
and  asked  no  favors.  It  was  not  that  which  pro 
foundly  troubled  him  and  awoke  the  long  dormant 
ethical  sense.  Had  Drake  figured  out  just  what  his 
conclusions  would  be  and  the  effect  on  the  public 
from  allowing  him  to  proceed  blindly  on  a  wrong 
start?  In  a  word,  had  Drake  deliberately  used  him 
to  mislead  others,  knowing  that  after  the  success  of 
Indiana  Smelter  his  prospective  son-in-law  would  be 
credited  with  inside  information? 

He  did  not  as  yet  answer  these  questions  in  the 
affirmative;  to  do  so  meant  a  decision  subversive  of 
all  his  newly  acquired  sense  of  success.  But  though 
he  still  denied  the  accusations,  they  would  not  be  thus 
answered,  constantly  returning. 

At  the  offices  it  was  as  though  the  dead  man  were 
lying  in  wait.  A  sense  of  fright  possessed  him  with 
the  opening  of  the  door.  The  girl  at  the  telephone 
greeted  him  with  swollen  eyes,  swollen  with  hysteri 
cal  weeping;  the  stenographers  moved  noiselessly, 
hushed  by  the  indefinable  sense  of  the  supernatural. 
The  brass  plate  on  the  door  —  W.  O.  Forshay  — 
seemed  to  him  something  inexpressibly  grim  and  hor 
rible.  He  had  the  feeling  which  the  others  showed 


186  MAKING  MONEY 

in  their  roving  glances,  as  though  that  plate  hid 
something,  as  though  there  was  something  behind  his 
door,  waiting. 

He  went  into  the  inner  offices,  at  a  sudden  sum 
mons.  Hauk  was  at  the  table,  gazing  out  of  the 
window ;  Flaspoller  worrying  and  fussing  in  the  cen 
ter  of  the  rug,  switching  aimlessly  back  and  forth. 

Bojo  nodded  silently  on  entering. 

"  You  saw?  "  said  Hauk  with  a  jerk  of  his  head. 

"Yes.     Horrible!" 

Flaspoller  broke  out :  "  Not  a  cent  in  the  world. 
God  knows  how  much  the  firm  will  have  to  make 
good.  Thirty-five,  forty,  forty-five  thousand,  maybe 
more.  Oh,  we're  stuck  all  right." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say,"  said  Bojo  slowly,  "  that  he 
left  nothing  —  no  property?" 

"Oh,  a  house  perhaps  —  mortgaged,  of  course; 
and  then  do  we  know  what  else  he  owes?  No.  A 
hell  of  a  hole  we've  got  in  with  your  Pittsburgh  & 
New  Orleans." 

"  That's  not  quite  fair,"  said  Bojo  quietly.  "  I 
did  give  you  a  tip  on  Indiana  Smelter  and  you  made 
money  on  that.  I  never  said  anything  about  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans.  I  distinctly  refused  to. 
You  drew  your  own  conclusions." 

"  That's  a  good  joke,"  said  Flaspoller  with  a  con 
temptuous  laugh. 

"  What  do  you  mean?  "  said  Bojo,  flushing  angrily. 

"  Well,  I'll  tell  you  what  I  mean,"  said  Flaspoller, 
discretion  to  the  winds.  "  When  you  come  into  a 
firm  that  has  treated  you  generously  as  we  have,  put 
up  your  salary  without  waiting  to  be  asked,  and  you 
bring  in  orders,  confidential  orders,  to  sell  five  hun- 


PAYING  THE  PIPER  — PLUS  187 

dred  shares  to-day,  a  thousand  to-morrow,  like  you 
sell  yourself,  and  your  friends  sell  too  —  if  you  let 
your  firm  go  on  selling  and  don't  know  what's  up, 
you're  either  one  big  jackass  or  a  — " 

"Or  a  what?"  said  Bojo,  advancing. 

Something  in  the  menacing  eye  caused  the  little 
broker  to  halt  abruptly  with  a  noncommittal  shrug 
of  his  shoulders. 

"  I  wouldn't  go  too  far,  Flaspoller,"  said  Bojo 
coldly.  "If  this  was  a  mistake,  I  paid  for  it  too,  as 
you  know.  You  know  what  I  dropped." 

"  I  know  nothing,"  said  Flaspoller,  recovering  his 
courage  with  his  anger,  and  planting  himself  defi 
antly  in  the  young  fellow's  path.  "  I  know  only 
what  you  lost  —  here,  and  I  know  too  what  we 
lose." 

"  Good  heavens,  do  you  mean  to  insinuate  that  I 
did  anything  crooked?"  said  Bojo  loudly,  yet  at  the 
bottom  ill  at  ease. 

"  Shut  up  now,"  said  Hauk,  as  Flaspoller  started 
on  another  angry  tirade.  "  Look  here,  Mr.  Crocker, 
there's  no  use  wasting  words.  The  milk's  spilt. 
Well,  what  then?" 

"  I'm  sorry,  of  course,"  said  Bojo,  frowning. 

"Of  course  you  understand  after  what's  hap 
pened,"  said  Hauk  quietly,  "  it  would  be  impossible 
for  us  to  make  use  of  your  services  any  more." 

Much  as  he  himself  had  contemplated  breaking  off 
relations,  it  gave  him  quite  a  shock  to  hear  that  he 
was  being  dismissed.  He  caught  his  breath,  looked 
from  one  to  another  and  said : 

"  Quite  right.  There  I  agree  with  you.  I  shall  be 
very  glad  to  leave  your  office  to-day." 


188  MAKING  MONEY 

He  went  to  his  desk  in  a  towering  rage,  went 
through  his  papers  blindly,  and  rose  shortly  to  go  out 
where  he  could  get  hold  of  himself  and  decide  on  a 
course  of  action.  The  fact  was  that  for  the  first 
time  he  had  a  feeling  of  guilt.  He  again  assured 
himself  that  he  was  perfectly  innocent,  that  there  was 
nothing  in  his  whole  course  which  could  be  objected 
to.  Yet  how  many  would  have  believed  him  if  they 
knew  that  this  very  morning  he  had  deposited  a 
check  for  a  quarter  of  a  million  ?  What  would  Hauk 
and  Flaspoller  have  said  at  the  bare  announcement? 

He  wandered  into  familiar  groups,  tarrying  a  mo 
ment  and  then  passing  on,  parrying  the  questions 
that  were  showered  on  him  by  those  who  knew  the 
intimacy  of  his  relations  with  the  successful  manipu 
lator.  In  all  their  conversations  Drake  appeared  like 
a  demigod.  Men  went  back  to  the  famous  corners 
of  Commodore  Vanderbilt  for  a  comparison  with  the 
skill  and  boldness  of  the  late  manipulator.  It  was 
freely  said  that  there  was  no  other  man  in  Wall 
Street  who  would  have  dared  so  openly  to  defy  the 
great  powers  of  the  day  and  force  them  to  terms. 

In  this  chorus  of  admiration  there  was  no  note  of 
censure.  He  had  played  the  game  as  they  played  it. 
No  one  held  him  responsible  for  the  tragedy  of  For- 
shay  and  the  unwritten  losses  of  those  who  had  been 
caught. 

Yet  Bo  jo  was  not  convinced.  He  knew  that  he 
had  not  been  able  to  meet  the  partners  openly;  that 
despite  all  the  injustice  of  their  attitude,  he  had  with 
held  the  knowledge  of  his  ultimate  winnings,  and  that 
he  had  withheld  it  because  he  would  have  been  at  a 
loss  to  explain  it.  More  potent  than  the  stoic  indif- 


PAYING  THE  PIPER  — PLUS  189 

ference  of  Wall  Street  was  the  memory  of  the  chance 
acquaintance,  wrecked  by  the  accident  of  this  meet 
ing;  of  Forshay,  calmly  matching  quarters  with  him 
before  the  opening  of  the  market,  calculating  the 
fatal  point  beyond  which  a  rise  meant  to  him  the  end. 
And  as  he  examined  it  from  this  intimate  outlook, 
he  wondered  more  and  more  how  free  from  respon 
sibility  and  cruelty,  from  the  echoes  of  agony,  could 
be  any  fortune  of  ten  millions  made  over  night,  be 
cause  of  others  who  had  been  led  recklessly  to  gamble 
beyond  their  means. 

Forshay  recalled  DeLancy,  and  he  shuddered  at 
the  thought  of  how  close  the  line  of  disaster  had 
passed  to  him.  Again  and  again  he  remembered  with 
distaste  the  look  in  DeLancy's  face  when  at  the  end 
he  had  persuaded  him  to  take  the  check.  What  sat 
most  heavily  upon  his  conscience  was  that  now,  with 
the  ranging  of  events  in  clearer  perspective,  he  began 
to  compare  his  own  attitude  with  Drake's,  with  De 
Lancy's  weak  submission  to  his  explanation.  If 
DeLancy  had  taken  money  that  Marsh  had  indig 
nantly  rejected,  what  had  he  himself  done? 

At  twelve,  making  a  sudden  resolve,  he  went  up  to 
the  offices.  The  partners  were  still  there,  brooding 
over  the  rout,  favoring  him  with  dark  looks  at  his 
interruption. 

"  Mr.  Hauk,  will  you  give  me  the  total  of  Mr.  For- 
shay's  indebtedness  to  your  firm  ?  " 

Flaspoller  wheeled  with  an  insolent  dismissal  on 
his  lips,  but  Hauk  forestalled  him.  "  What  business 
is  that  of  yours?  " 

"  You  stated  that  his  losses  might  amount  to  forty 
or  forty-five  thousand.  Is  that  correct  ?  " 


190  MAKING  MONEY 

"That's  our  affair!" 

"  You  don't  understand,"  said  Bojo  quietly,  "  but  I 
think  it  will  be  to  your  interest  to  listen  to  me.  Do 
I  understand  that  you  intend  to  exercise  your  claim 
on  whatever  property  may  still  be  left  to  Mr.  For- 
shay's  widow?  " 

"What  nonsense  is  he  talking?"  said  Flaspoller, 
turning  to  his  partner  in  amazement. 

"  I  thought  so,"  said  Bojo,  taking  his  answer  from 
their  attitude.  "  I  repeat,  kindly  give  me  the  exact 
figures,  in  detail,  of  the  total  indebtedness  of  Mr. 
Forshay  to  your  firm." 

"  I  suppose  you  want  to  pay  it,  eh  ?  "  said  Flas 
poller  contemptuously. 

"Exactly." 

"What!" 

The  reply  came  almost  in  a  shout.  Hauk,  keener 
than  his  partner,  perceiving  from  the  exalted  calm  of 
the  young  man  that  the  matter  was  serious,  caught 
Flaspoller  by  the  arm  and  shot  him  into  a  chair. 

"  You  sit  down  and  be  quiet."  He  approached 
Bojo,  studying  him  keenly.  "  You  want  to  pay  up 
for  Forshay  —  am  I  right  ?  " 

"  You  are." 

"When?" 

"  Now." 

Hauk  himself  was  not  proof  against  the  shock  the 
announcement  brought.  He  sat  down,  stupidly  rub 
bing  his  hand  across  his  forehead,  glancing  suspi 
ciously  at  Bojo.  Finally  he  recovered  himself  suf 
ficiently  to  say : 

"  For  what  reason  do  you  want  to  do  this  ?  " 


PAYING  THE  PIPER  — PLUS  191 

"  That  is  my  business,"  said  Bojo,  "  and  besides 
you  would  not  understand  in  the  least." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Flaspoller,  recovering  his  eager 
ness  with  his  cupidity. 

"  You're  not  going  to  refuse,  are  you?  " 

"  That's  very  noble,  very  generous,"  said  Hauk 
slowly.  "  We  were  a  little  hasty,  Mr.  Crocker. 
We've  lost  a  good  deal  of  money.  We  sometimes 
say  things  a  little  more  than  we  mean  at  such  times. 
You  mustn't  think  too  much  of  that.  We  are  very 
much  upset  —  we  thought  the  world  of  Mr.  For- 
shay— " 

"  All  this  is  quite  unnecessary,"  said  Bojo  with 
quiet  scorn.  "  We  are  dealing  with  figures.  Have 
you  the  account  ready  —  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes  —  we  can  have  it  ready  in  a  moment  — 
look  it  over  —  take  just  a  few  moments,"  said  Flas 
poller  eagerly.  "  Sit  down,  Mr.  Crocker,  while  we 
look  it  up." 

"  Thanks,  I  prefer  to  wait  outside.  Remember  I 
want  a  complete  and  minute  statement." 

He  wheeled  and  went  out  with  disgust,  taking  his 
seat  by  his  old  place  at  the  window,  without  remov 
ing  his  hat  and  coat.  He  waited  thus,  long  minutes, 
staring  out  at  the  dirt-stained  walls  of  the  opposite 
skyscraper  that,  five  hundred  feet  in  the  air,  shut 
them  out  from  a  glimpse  of  the  sky,  oblivious  to  whis 
pered  conversations,  curious  glances,  or  the  nervous 
bustling  to  and  fro  of  the  partners.  Presently  the 
telephone  buzzed  at  his  side. 

"  Mr.  Hauk  would  like  you  to  step  into  his  office, 
sir." 


192  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Tell  him  to  come  to  me." 

It  was  bravado,  but  a  revenge  that  was  precious  to 
him.  Almost  immediately  Hauk  came  sliding  to  his 
desk,  laying  a  paper  before  him. 

"  This  is  it,  Mr.  Crocker." 

"  Every  claim  you  have  against  the  estate  —  every 
one?"  said  Bojo,  examining  carefully  the  items. 

"  Perfectly." 

But  at  this  moment  Flaspoller  arrived  hastily  and 
alarmed. 

"  We  forgot  the  share  in  the  expense  of  the  office," 
he  said  hurriedly. 

"  Put  it  down,"  said  Bojo,  with  a  wave  of  his 
hand.  At  the  point  of  bitter  scorn  at  which  he  had 
arrived,  it  seemed  to  him  a  sublime  thing  to  accept 
all  figures  without  condescending  to  enter  into  dis 
cussion.  "  Anything  more,  gentlemen?" 

Flaspoller  in  vain  tortured  his  memory  at  this  last 
summons.  Hauk,  misunderstanding  the  frown  and 
the  stare  with  which  Bojo  continued  to  gaze  at  the 
paper,  began  to  explain :  "  This  item  here  is  calcu 
lated  on  a  third  share  in  — " 

"  I  don't  want  any  explanations,"  said  Bojo,  cut 
ting  him  short.  "  You  will,  of  course,  furnish  com 
plete  details  to  the  executor  of  the  estate.  Now  if 
this  is  complete,  kindly  give  me  a  written  acknowl 
edgment  of  a  payment  in  full  of  every  claim  you  hold 
against  the  estate  of  W.  O.  Forshay,  and  likewise  an 
attestation  that  this  is  in  every  respect  a  just  and  true 
bill  of  Mr.  Forshay's  debts."  He  drew  out  his  check 
book.  "  Fifty-two  thousand,  seven  hundred  — " 

"  And  forty-six  dollars,"  said  Flaspoller,  who  fol- 


PAYING  THE  PIPER  — PLUS  193 

lowed  the  strokes  of  the  pen  with  incredulous  eyes  as 
though  unable  to  believe  in  Providence. 

Bojo  rose,  took  the  acquittals  and  the  bill  of  items, 
and  handed  them  the  check,  saying :  "  This  closes 
the  matter,  I  believe." 

An  immense  struggle  was  going  on  in  the  minds  of 
the  two  partners  —  curiosity,  cupidity,  and  a  new 
sense  of  the  financial  strength  of  the  man  who  could 
thus  toss  off  checks,  plainly  written  in  their  startled 
expressions. 

"  Mr.  Crocker,  Tom,  we  should  be  very  glad  if  you 
forgot  what  we  said  this  morning,"  said  Flaspoller 
hurriedly.  "  You've  been  very  handsome,  very  hand 
some  indeed.  You  can  always  have  a  desk  in  our 
offices.  Mr.  Crocker,  I  apologize  for  mistaking  you. 
Shake  hands ! " 

"  Good-by,  gentlemen!"  said  Bojo,  lifting  his  hat 
with  the  utmost  punctiliousness. 

He  took  a  hasty  luncheon  and  went  uptown  to  the 
Court,  where  Delia,  the  pretty  little  Irish  girl  at  the 
telephone  desk,  opened  her  eyes  in  surprise  at  this 
unusual  appearance. 

"Why,  Mr.  Crocker,  what's  wrong?" 

"  I'm  changing  my  habits,  Delia,"  he  said  with  an 
attempted  laugh. 

He  went  to  his  room  and  sat  a  long  while  before 
the  fireplace,  pulling  at  a  pipe.  At  length  he  rose, 
went  to  the  desk,  and  wrote : 

Dear  Doris : 

A  good  many  things  have  come  up  since  I  left  you.  I  think 
it  is  better  that  no  announcement  be  made  until  we  have  had  a 


194  MAKING  MONEY 

chance  to  talk  matters  over  very  seriously.     I  hope  that  can 
be  soon. 

Bojo. 

P.S.     Please  thank  Patsie  for  packing  my  bag.     I  went  off  in 
such  a  rush  I  think  I  forgot. 

P.P.S.     Tell  Gladys  that  Fred  came  out  all  right  —  shouldn't 
be  surprised  if  he'd  made  a  little  too. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

BOJO    FACES   THE   TRUTH 

'"THE  next  days  he. spent  aimlessly.  He  had  a  great 
A  decision  to  make,  and  he  acted  as  though  he  had 
not  a  thought  in  the  world  but  to  drift  indolently 
through  life.  He  idled  through  breakfast,  reading 
the  morning  papers  laboriously,  and  was  amazed  to 
find  that  with  all  his  delay  it  was  only  eleven  o'clock, 
with  an  interminable  interval  to  be  rilled  in  before 
lunch.  He  began  a  dozen  novels,  seeking  to  lose  him 
self  in  the  spell  of  other  lands  and  other  times;  but 
as  soon  as  he  sallied  out  to  his  club  he  had  the  feeling 
that  the  world  had  been  turned  inside  out. 

After  luncheon  he  tried  vainly  to  inveigle  some  ac 
quaintance  into  an  afternoon's  loafing,  only  to  re 
ceive  again  that  impression  of  strange  loneliness  in  a 
foreign  land,  as  one  after  the  other  disappeared  be 
fore  the  call  of  work.  He  had  nothing  to  do  ex 
cept  the  one  thing  which  in  the  end  he  knew  had  to 
be  done,  and  the  more  he  sought  to  put  it  from  him, 
idling  in  moving-picture  halls  or  consuming  long 
stretches  of  pavement  in  exploring  tramps,  the  more 
he  felt  something  always  back  of  his  shoulder,  not  to 
be  denied. 

He  avoided  the  company  of  his  chums,  seeking 
other  acquaintances  with  whom  to  dine  and  take  in  a 
show.  Something  had  fallen  into  the  midst  of  the 

195 


196  MAKING  MONEY 

old  intimacy  of  Westover  Court.  There  was  a  feel 
ing  of  unease  and  impending  disruption.  The  pas 
sion  for  gain  had  passed  among  them  at  last  and  the 
trail  of  disillusionment  it  had  left  could  not  be  ef 
faced.  The  boyish  delight,  the  frolicking  with  life 
had  passed.  They  seemed  to  have  aged  and  sobered 
in  a  night.  The  morning  breakfasts  were  con 
strained,  hurried  affairs.  There  was  not  the  old  give- 
and-take  spirit  of  horse  play.  DeLancy  was  moody 
and  evasive,  Marsh  silent,  and  Granning  grim.  Bojo 
could  not  meet  DeLancy's  eyes,  and  with  the  others 
he  felt  that  though  they  would  never  express  it,  he 
had  disappointed  them,  that  in  some  way  they  held 
him  responsible  for  the  changes  which  had  come  and 
the  loss  of  that  complete  and  free  spirit  of  comrade 
ship  which  would  never  return. 

He  had  reached  the  point  where  he  had  decided  on 
a  full  confession  to  Drake  and  a  certain  restitution. 
But  here  he  met  the  rock  of  his  indecision.  What 
should  he  restore?  After  deducting  the  sums  paid  to 
DeLancy  and  to  the  estate  of  Forshay,  he  had  still 
almost  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars. 
Why  should  he  not  deduct  his  own  losses,  amounting 
to  over  seventy  thousand  dollars  incurred  in  the 
service  of  a  campaign  which  had  netted  millions? 

His  conscience,  tortured  by  the  tragic  memory  of 
Forshay  and  the  feeling  of  the  spreading  circles  of 
panic  and  losses  which  had  started  from  his  unwit 
ting  agency,  had  finally  recoiled  before  the  thought 
of  making  profit  of  the  desolation  of  others.  But  if 
he  renounced  the  gain,  was  there  any  reason  why  he 
should  suffer  loss ;  why  Drake  should  not  reimburse 
him  as  he  had  reimbursed  others?  To  accept  this 


BOJO  FACES  THE  TRUTH  197 

view  meant  that  he  would  still  remain  in  possession 
of  upwards  of  eighty-five  thousand  dollars,  produc 
ing  a  tidy  income,  able  to  hold  up  his  own  in  the  soci 
ety  to  which  he  had  grown  accustomed.  To  re 
nounce  the  payment  of  his  losses  meant  not  simply  a 
blow  to  his  pride  in  the  acknowledgment  that  in  the 
first  six  months  he  had  already  lost  two-thirds  of  what 
his  father  had  given  him,  but  that  his  whole  scheme 
of  living  would  have  to  be  changed,  while  marriage 
with  Doris  became  an  impossibility. 

Beyond  the  first  letter  he  had  written  her  in  the 
first  tragic  reaction  on  his  return  from  the  office,  he 
had  sent  Doris  no  further  word.  What  he  had  to 
say  was  yet  too  undefined  to  express  on  paper.  Too 
much  depended  on  her  attitude  when  they  met  at  last 
face  to  face.  Her  letters,  full  of  anxiety  and  de 
mand  for  information,  remained  unanswered.  One 
afternoon  on  returning  after  a  day's  tramp  on  the 
East  Side,  he  found  a  telegram,  which  had  been  wait 
ing  hours. 

Return  this  afternoon  four-thirty  most  anxious  meet  me 
station. 

DORIS. 

It  was  then  almost  six.  Without  waiting  to  tele 
phone  explanations  he  jumped  in  a  taxi  and  shot  off 
uptown.  At  the  Drakes'  he  sent  up  his  name  by 
Thompson,  learning  with  a  sudden  tightening  of  the 
heart  that  Drake  himself  was  home.  He  went  into 
the  quiet  reception  room,  nervously  excited  by  the 
approaching  crisis,  resolved  now  that  it  was  up,  to 
push  it  to  its  ultimate  conclusion.  As  he  whipped 
back  and  forth,  fingering  impatiently  the  shining 


198  MAKING  MONEY 

green  leaves  of  the  waxed  rubber  plant,  all  at  once,  to 
his  amazement,  Patsie  stood  before  him. 

"  You  here  ?  "  he  said,  stopping  short. 

She  nodded,  red  in  her  cheeks,  looking  quickly  at 
him  and  away. 

"  Doris  is  changing  her  dress ;  she'll  be  down  right 
away.  Didn't  you  get  the  telegram  ?  " 

"  I'm  sorry  —  I  was  out  all  day." 

He  stopped  and  she  was  silent,  both  awkwardly 
conscious  of  the  other.  Finally  he  stammered :  "  I 
asked  Doris  to  thank  you  —  for  getting  my  bag 
ready  and  —  and  your  message." 

"  Oh,  Bojo,"  she  said  impulsively  and  the  spots  of 
red  on  her  cheek  spread  like  flames,  "  I  want  to  speak 
to  you  so  much.  I  have  been  thinking  over  so  many 
things  that  I  ought  to  say." 

"  You  can  say  anything,"  he  said  gently. 

"  Bojo,  you  must  marry  Doris ! "  she  said  brok 
enly,  joining  her  hands. 

"Why?"  he  said,  too  startled  to  notice  the  ab 
surdity  of  the  question. 

"  She  needs  you.  She  loves  you.  If  you  could 
have  seen  her  all  Sunday  night  when  we  —  when  she 
was  afraid  you  had  been  ruined.  You  don't  know 
how  she  cares.  I  didn't.  I  was  terribly  mistaken 
—  unjust.  You  mustn't  let  her  go  off  and  marry 
some  one  she  doesn't  care  about,  like  Boskirk,  the 
way  Dolly  did." 

"  But  I  must  do  what  is  right  for  me  too,"  he 
said  desperately,  moved  by  the  radiance  in  her  eyes 
that  seemed  to  flow  out  and  envelope  him  irresistibly. 
"  I  have  a  right  to  love  too,  to  find  a  woman  who 
knows  what  love  means  — " 


BOJO  FACES  THE  TRUTH  199 

"  Don't  —  don't,"  she  said,  turning  away  miser 
ably,  too  young  to  make  the  pretense  of  not  under 
standing  him. 

"  Listen,  Drina,"  he  said,  catching  her  hand.  "  I 
am  up  against  a  decision,  the  greatest  decision  in  my 
life,  which  means  whether  I  am  to  have  the  right  to 
my  own  self-respect  and  yours  and  others.  One  way 
means  money,  an  easy  way  to  everything  people  want 
in  this  world,  and  no  blame  attached  except  what  I 
myself  might  feel.  The  other  means  standing  on  my 
own  feet,  no  favors,  taking  a  loss  of  thousands  of 
dollars,  and  a  fight  of  perhaps  five,  ten  years  to  get 
where  I  am  now.  Which  would  you  do?  No,  you 
don't  even  need  to  answer,"  he  said  joyfully,  carried 
away  by  the  look  in  her  eyes  as  she  swung  fearlessly 
around.  *''  I  know  you." 

In  his  fervor  he  caught  her  hand  and  pressed  it 
against  his  heart.  "  Drina  dear,  you  ring  true,  true 
as  a  bell.  You,  I  know,  will  understand  whatever  I 
do."  He  was  rushing  on  when  suddenly  a  thought 
stopped  him.  If  he  did  what  he  had  planned,  what 
right  would  he  have  to  hope  of  marrying  her  even 
after  years  of  toil?  He  dropped  her  hands,  his  face 
going  so  blank  that,  forgetting  the  mingled  joy  and 
terror  his  words  had  brought  her,  she  cried : 

"  Bojo  —  what's  wrong  —  what  are  you  thinking 
of?" 

He  turned  away,  shaking  his  head,  drawing  a  deep 
breath. 

But  at  this  moment,  before  Patsie  could  escape, 
Doris  came  down  the  stairs  and  directly  to  him. 

"  Bojo  —  I've  been  so  worried  —  why  didn't  you 
answer  my  letters  ?  And  why  didn't  you  meet  me  ?  " 


200  MAKING  MONEY 

She  threw  her  arms  about  his  neck,  gazing  anx 
iously  into  his  eyes.  He  had  a  blurred  vision  of 
Patsie,  shrinking  and  white,  turning  from  the  sight 
of  the  embrace,  as  he  stammered  explanations. 
Luckily  Drake  himself  broke  the  tension  with  an 
unexpected  appearance  and  a  bluff  — 

"  Hello,  Tom.  Where  have  you  been  keeping 
yourself?  Now  that  you're  a  millionaire  I  expected 
you  to  come  sailing  in  on  a  steam  yacht!  Well, 
Doris,  what  do  you  think  of  your  financier?" 

"  Mr.  Drake,  I've  got  something  important  I  must 
talk  over  with  you.  Can  you  see  me  for  a  few  min 
utes  now?  It's  very  important.  If  you  could — " 

The  tone  in  which  he  said  these  words,  staring  past 
them  into  the  vista  of  the  salons,  impressed  each  with 
the  feeling  of  a  crisis.  Drake  halted,  shot  a  quick 
glance  from  the  young  fellow  to  Doris,  and  said,  as 
he  went  out : 

"  Why,  yes  —  of  course.  Come  in  now.  Soon  as 
you're  ready.  The  library  —  glad  to  see  you." 

At  the  same  moment,  with  a  last  appealing  glance, 
Patsie  disappeared  behind  the  curtains.  Doris  came 
to  him,  startled  and  alarmed. 

"  You're  not  in  trouble  ?  "  she  said,  wonder  in  her 
look.  "  Dad  told  me  you'd  made  a  quarter  of  a  mil 
lion  and  that  everything  was  all  right.  That  is  true, 
isn't  it?" 

"  Doris,  everything  is  not  all  right,"  he  said  sol 
emnly.  "  Whether  I  am  to  keep  my  share  or  not  de 
pends  on  what  answer  your  father  gives  to  one  ques 
tion  I  am  going  to  ask  him." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  You  mean  you  would  not 
accept  — " 


BOJO  FACES  THE  TRUTH  201 

"  Under  certain  circumstances  I  can't  accept  this 
money  —  exactly  that." 

"  But,  Bojo,  don't  do  anything  rash  —  hastily," 
she  said  hurriedly.  "  Talk  it  over  with  me  first. 
Let  me  know." 

"  No,"  he  said  firmly.     "  This  is  my  decision." 

"  At  least  let  me  come  with  you  —  let  me  hear !  " 

He  shook  his  head.  "  No,  Doris  —  not  even  that. 
This  is  between  your  father  and  me." 

"  But  our  marriage,"  she  said  in  desperation,  fol 
lowing  him  to  the  door. 

"  Afterward  —  when  I  have  seen  your  father,  then 
we  must  talk  of  that." 

The  new  decision  in  his  voice  and  movement  sur 
prised  and  controlled  her.  She  raised  her  hand  as 
though  to  speak,  and  found  no  word  to  utter  in  her 
amazement.  He  went  quickly  through  the  salons, 
knocked,  and  went  into  the  library.  Drake,  with  a 
premonition  perhaps  of  what  was  coming,  was 
waiting  impatiently,  spinning  the  chain  of  his 
watch. 

"  Well,  Tom,  to  the  point.  What  is  it?  "  he  said 
imperiously. 

"  Mr.  Drake,"  Bojo  began  carefully,  "  I  have  not 
been  in  to  see  you  because  —  because  I  did  not  know 
just  what  to  say.  Mr.  Drake,  I've  been  terribly  up 
set  by  this  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  deal !  " 

"  What,  upset  by  making  a  cool  quarter  of  a  mil 
lion?" 

"  Yes,  that's  it,"  he  said  firmly,  never  losing  an 
expression  on  the  older  man's  face.  "  You  know,  of 
course,  that  Forshay,  who  committed  suicide,  was  in 
my  office." 


202  MAKING  MONEY 

"  What,  in  your  office  ?  "  said  Drake,  with  a  start. 
"  No,  I  didn't  know  that !  " 

"  That's  rather  shaken  me  up.  He  ruined  himself 
on  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans.  And  then  that  night 
—  when  I  got  home  one  of  my  chums  was  pretty 
close  to  the  same  thing." 

"  I  told  you  not  to  take  any  one  into  your  confi 
dence,  Tom,"  said  Drake  quietly. 

"  That's  true,  you  told  me  that.  Mr.  Drake,  an 
swer  me  this,  didn't  you  expect  me  to  tell  —  some 
one?" 

Drake  looked  at  him  quickly,  then  down,  drumming 
with  his  fingers. 

"What's  the  point?" 

Bojo  had  no  longer  any  doubts.  The  transaction 
had  been  as  he  had  finally  divined.  Yet  the  words 
had  not  been  spoken  that  meant  to  him  the  renuncia 
tion  of  all  the  luxury  and  opportunity  that  surrounded 
him  in  the  tapestried  wealth  of  the  great  room.  He 
hesitated  so  long  that  Drake  looked  up  at  him  and 
frowned,  repeating  the  question : 

"  What's  the  point,  Tom  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Drake,  you  knew  I  would  tell  others  to  sell 
Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  —  you  intended  I  should, 
didn't  you  ?  That  was  part  of  your  plan  —  a  neces 
sary  part,  wasn't  it  ?  " 

"  Tom,  I  expressly  told  you  not  to  jump  to  con 
clusions,"  said  Drake,  rising  and  raising  his  voice. 
"  I  expressly  told  you  not  to  let  the  cat  out  of  the 
bag." 

"Won't  you  answer  my  question?  Yes  or  no?" 
said  the  young  fellow,  very  quiet  and  quite  colorless. 

"  I  have  answered  that." 


BOJO  FACES  THE  TRUTH  203 

"  Yes,  you  have  answered,"  said  Bo  jo  slowly. 
"  Now,  Mr.  Drake,  I  won't  press  you  any  further. 
I  know.  I  can't  accept  that  money.  It  is  not  mine." 

"Can't  accept?  What's  this  nonsense?"  said 
Drake,  stopping  short. 

"  I  can't  make  money  off  the  losings  of  my  friends, 
whom  I  have  ruined  to  make  your  deal  succeed." 

"That's  a  hard  word!" 

"  And  there's  another  reason,"  said  Bojo,  ignoring 
his  flash  of  anger.  "  I  was  not  honest  with  you. 
The  night  I  came  here  I  was  ruined  myself." 

"  I  knew  that." 

"  But  you  didn't  know  that  I  had  used  the  fifty 
thousand  dollars  pledged  to  your  pool  and  that  if  you 
had  been  operating  as  I  thought  and  wiped  out,  I 
should  have  owed  you  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  — 
pledged  to  you  —  a  debt  which  would  mean  dishonor 
to  me." 

"  I  didn't  know  that.  No.  How  did  that  hap 
pen  ?  "  said  Drake,  sitting  down  and  gazing  anxiously 
at  him. 

"  I  lost  my  head  —  absolutely  —  completely.  I  did 
just  what  Forshay  and  DeLancy  did  —  gambled  with 
money  that  didn't  belong  to  me.  I  lived  in  a  night 
mare.  Mr.  Drake,  I  lost  my  bearings.  Now  I'm 
going  to  get  them  back."  He  paused,  drew  breath, 
and  continued  earnestly :  "  Now  you  understand 
why  I  don't  deserve  a  cent  of  that  money  even  if  you 
could  swear  to  me  you  didn't  use  me  purposely,  which 
you  can't!  I  pretty  nearly  went  over  the  line,  Mr. 
Drake,  and  it  wasn't  my  fault  I  didn't,  either.  I 
guess  I'm  not  built  right  for  this  sort  of  life  —  that's 
the  short  of  it." 


204  MAKING  MONEY 

"  You  are  young,  very  young,  Tom,"  said  Drake 
slowly.  "  Young  people  look  at  things  through  their 
emotions.  That's  what  you're  doing !  " 

"  Thank  God,"  said  Bojo,  and  it  seemed  to  him  for; 
the  first  time  a  feeling  of  peace  returned. 

"  What  do  you  want  to  do?  "  said  Drake,  frown 
ing  and  rising. 

"  I  can  not  return  you  the  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,"  said  Bojo  slowly.  "  I  paid  one  friend 
thirty-eight  thousand  to  cover  his  loses,  to  save  him 
from  disgrace  and  dishonor  in  the  eyes  of  a  woman ; 
another  friend  refused  to  accept  a  cent.  I  paid  to  the 
estate  of  Forshay  every  cent  of  indebtedness  he  owed 
the  firm  —  fifty-two  odd  thousand  dollars.  Forshay 
gambled  because  he  thought  I  knew.  That  makes  over 
ninety  thousand  dollars.  The  rest  —  one  hundred 
and  fifty-nine  thousand  —  I  will  return  to  you." 

"  Good  heavens,  Tom,  you  did  that  ?  "  said  Drake, 
taking  out  his  handkerchief.  He  sat  down  in  his 
chair,  overcome.  For  a  long  interval  no  one  spoke, 
and  then  from  the  chair  a  voice  came  out  that  sounded 
not  like  Drake  but  something  bodiless.  "  That's  aw 
ful —  awful.  From  my  point  of  view  I  have  played 
the  game  as  others,  as  square  as  the  squarest.  I  have 
lost  thousands  of  thousands  sticking  to  a  friend,  thou 
sands  in  keeping  to  my  word.  This  is  not  business, 
this  is  war.  Those  who  go  in,  who  intend  to  gamble 
with  life,  to  fight  with  thousands  and  millions,  must  go 
in  to  take  the  consequences.  If  they  ever  get  me  it'll 
be  because  some  one  has  turned  traitor,  not  bcause 
I've  sold  out  or  done  anything  disreputable.  If 
others  were  ruined  in  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans, 
that's  because  they  were  willing  to  make  money  by 


BOJO  FACES  THE  TRUTH  205 

smashing  up  some  other  person's  property.  It  was 
their  fault,  not  mine.  If  a  man  can't  control  him 
self —  his  fault.  If  a  man  goes  bankrupt  and  won't 
face  the  world  and  work  back  instead  of  blowing  his 
brains  out  —  his  fault. 

"  You  think  of  the  individual  —  men,  friends, 
death.  They  move  you,  they're  closer  to  you  than 
the  big  perspective.  They  don't  count,  no  one  counts. 
If  a  man  kills  himself,  he  dies  quicker  than  he  would 
and  is  not  worth  living,  that's  all.  Sounds  cold 
blooded  to  you.  Yes.  But  we're  dealing  in  move 
ments,  armies !  Poverty,  sorrow,  disaster,  death,  they 
are  life  —  you  can't  get  away  from  them.  A  great 
bridge  is  more  important  than  the  lives  of  the  men 
who  build  it,  a  great  railroad  is  necessary,  not  the 
question  whether  a  few  thousand  people  lose  their  for 
tunes,  in  the  operation  which  makes  a  great  amalga 
mation  possible.  That's  my  point  of  view.  It's  not 
yours.  You're  set  on  what  you've  made  up  your 
mind  to  do.  Your  emotions  have  got  you.  Ten 
years  from  now  you'll  regret  it." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  Bojo  simply. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  Well,  come  in  here 
as  my  private  secretary,"  said  Drake,  placing  his  hand 
on  the  young  man's  shoulder*  and  adding,  with  that 
burst  of  human  understanding  which  gave  him  a  mag 
netic  power  over  men :  "  Tom,  you're  a  —  fool  to 
do  what  you're  doing,  but,  by  heaven,  I  love  you  for 
it!" 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Bojo,  controlling  his  voice  with 
difficulty. 

"  Will  you  com*,  here?  " 

"  No." 


206  MAKING  MONEY 

"Why  not?" 

"  Frankly,  I  want  to  do  something  by  myself,"  said 
Bojo  stubbornly.  "  I  don't  want  some  one  to  take  me 
by  the  collar  and  jack  me  up  into  success." 

"Think  it  over!" 

"  No,  I'll  stick  to  that.  I  want  to  get  into  a  rational 
life.  To  live  the  way  I've  been  living  is  torture." 

Drake  hesitated,  as  though  loathe  to  let  him  go, 
seeking  some  way  out. 

"  Won't  you  let  me  make  good  your  losses  —  at 
least  that?" 

"  Not  after  the  hole  I  got  into,  no." 

"  Damn  it,  Tom,  won't  you  let  me  do  something  to 
help  out?" 

"  No,  not  a  thing."  He  went  up  and  shook  hands. 
"  You  don't  know  what  it  means  to  be  able  to  look 
you  in  the  eyes  again,  sir.  That's  everything!  " 

"  And  Doris  ?  "  said  Drake  slowly,  beaten  at  every 
point. 

"  Doris  I  am  going  to  see  now,"  he  said. 

He  went  to  the  door  hastily  to  avoid  sentimentali 
ties,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  curtain,  where  she 
had  been  listening,  he  found  Doris,  wide-eyed  and 
thrilled,  her  finger  on  her  lips. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

A   CHIP   OF  THE  OLD   BLOCK 

WHAT,  you  were  there !  You  heard !  "  he  said, 
astounded. 

She  nodded  her  head,  incapable  of  speech,  her 
ringer  still  on  her  lips,  drawing  him  by  the  hand  into 
the  little  sitting-room  where  they  were  in  a  measure 
free  from  other  eyes. 

"  Now  for  a  torrent  of  reproaches,"  he  thought 
grimly.- 

But  instead  the  next  moment  tears  were  on  her 
cheeks,  her  arms  about  him,  and  her  head  on  his 
shoulder.  Seeing  her  thus  shaken,  he  thought  bit 
terly  that  all  this  grief  was  but  for  the  material  loss, 
the  blow  to  her  ambitions.  All  at  once  she  raised  her 
head,  took  him  firmly  by  the  shoulder,  and  said : 

"  Bojo,  I've  never  loved  you  before  —  but  I  do 
now,  oh,  yes,  now  I  know ! " 

He  shook  his  head,  unable  to  believe  her  capable 
of  great  emotions. 

"  Doris,  you  are  carried  away  —  this  is  not  what 
you'll  say  to-morrow !  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  it  is !  "  she  cried  fervently.  "  I'll  sac 
rifice  anything  now  —  nothing  will  ever  make  me  give 
you  up !  " 

"  Luckily  for  you,"  he  said,  his  look  darkening, 
"you'll  have  time  enough  to  come  to  your  senses. 

207 


208  MAKING  MONEY 

If  you  heard  all,  you  know  what  this  means  —  start 
ing  at  the  beginning." 

"  I  heard  —  I  understand,"  she  said,  close  to  him, 
her  eyes  shining  with  a  light  that  blotted  out  the  world 
in  confused  shadow.  He  looked  at  her,  thrilled  by 
her  feeling,  by  the  thought  that  it  belonged  to  him, 
that  he  was  the  master  of  it,  and  yet  unconvinced. 

"  It's  just  your  imagination,"  he  said  quietly, 
"that's  all.  Doris,  I  know  you  too  well  —  what 
you've  lived  with  and  what  you  must  have."  He 
added,  with  a  doubting  smile :  "  You  remember  what 
you  said  to  me  that  day  on  our  ride,  when  we  passed 
through  that  factory  village  — '  ask  me  anything  but 
to  be  poor' " 

"  Bojo,"  she  said,  desperately,  "  you  don't  under 
stand  what  a  woman  is.  That  was  true  —  then. 
There's  all  that  you  say  in  me,  but  there's  something 
else  which  you've  never  called  out  before,  which  can 
come  when  I  love,  when  I  really  love."  She  clung 
to  him,  fighting  for  him,  feeling  how  close  she  had 
been  to  losing  him.  "  Bojo,  believe  in  me,  give  me 
one  more  chance !  " 

"  To-morrow  you'll  come  to  me  with  some  new 
scheme  for  making  money !  " 

"  No,  no." 

"  You'll  try  to  persuade  me  that  I  should  marry  you 
on  your  money,  take  the  opportunities  your  father  can 
shove  in  my  way.  Oh,  Doris,  I  know  you  too 
well!" 

"  No,  no,  I  won't.  I  don't  want  —  don't  you  see  I 
don't  want  to  make  you  do  anything?  I  want  to 
follow  you ! " 

"  That  has  been  the  trouble,"  he  said,  abruptly. 


'What  does  all  the  rest  amount  to?'  she  said  breathlessly.    'I 
want  you  '  "—Page  209 


A  CHIP  OF  THE  OLD  BLOCK          209 

He  turned,  walked  away,  and  sat  down,  gazing  out 
through  the  window,  feeling  something  dark  and 
enveloping  closing  about  him  without  his  being  able 
to  slip  away.  She  came  impulsively  to  his  side,  fling 
ing  herself  on  the  floor  at  his  knees,  carried  away 
with  the  intensity  of  her  emotion. 

"  What  does  all  the  rest  amount  to ! "  she  said 
breathlessly.  "  I  want  you !  I  want  a  man,  not  a 
dummy,  in  my  life.  I  want  some  one  to  look  up  to, 
bigger,  stronger  than  I  am,  that  can  make  me  do 
things." 

He  put  his  hand  on  hers,  thrilling  as  he  bent  quickly 
and  kissed  it. 

"  The  trouble  has  been,"  he  said  slowly,  "  all  this 
time  I've  been  trying  to  come  to  your  ways  of  living, 
to  reach  you.  Doris,  I  can't  promise;  I'm  not  sure 
of  myself,  of  what  I  think — " 

"  Oh,  it  would  be  such  a  dreadful  thing  if  you  were 
to  let  me  go  now,"  she  said  suddenly,  covering  her 
face.  "  Now,  when  I  know  what  I  could  do !  " 

"  Yes,"  he  assented,  feeling  too  the  power  he  had 
suddenly  acquired  to  make  or  mar  a  life,  and  with  that 
power  the  responsibility. 

"  You  can  do  anything  with  me,"  she  said  in  a 
whisper. 

He  felt  a  lump  in  his  throat,  a  sense  of  being 
blocked  at  every  turn,  a  horror  of  doing  harm,  and  a 
wild  pride  in  the  thought  that  at  the  last  this  girl, 
whom  he  had  rebelled  against  so  often  for  being  with 
out  emotion  or  passion,  was  at  his  feet,  without  re 
serve,  a  warm,  adoring  woman. 

"  Doris,  you  have  got  to  come  to  me  on  my  foot 
ing,"  he  said  firmly  at  last. 


210  MAKING  MONEY 

She  accepted  it  as  the  answer  she  had  longed  for, 
raising  her  face  suffused  with  joy,  pressing  his  hand 
to  her  heart,  her  eyes  swimming  with  tears,  inarticu 
late. 

"  Try  me  —  anything !  I'm  happy  —  so  happy  — 
so  afraid  —  I  was  so  afraid  —  Oh,  Bojo,  to  think  I 
might  never  have  known  you  —  lost  you !  " 

When  a  little  calm  had  been  reestablished,  she 
wished  to  marry  him  at  once,  to  live  in  one  room  in  a 
boarding-house,  if  necessary,  to  prove  her  sincerity. 
He  answered  her  evasively,  pretending  to  laugh  at 
her,  feeling  the  while  the  leaden  load  of  what  by  a 
trick  of  fate  he  had  assumed  at  the  moment  when  he 
had  expected  the  completest  freedom.  Yet  there  was 
something  so  genuine,  so  uncalculated  in  her  contri 
tion,  something  so  helpless  and  appealing  to  his 
strength  in  her  surrender  to  his  will  and  decision,  that 
he  felt  stirred  to  a  poignant  pity,  and  shrank  before 
the  brutality  of  inflicting  pain. 

When  he  left,  quiet  and  brooding,  turning  the  cor 
ner  of  the  Avenue  his  glance  happened  to  go  to  a  win 
dow  on  the  second  floor,  and  he  saw  Patsie  looking 
down.  He  stopped,  stumbling  in  his  progress,  and 
then,  recovering  himself,  lifted  his  hat  solemnly.  She 
did  not  move  nor  make  an  answering  gesture.  He 
saw  her  only  immobile,  looking  down  at  him. 

When  he  returned  to  the  Court  and  stopped  me 
chanically  at  the  desk  for  his  mail,  Delia,  with  her 
welcoming  smile,  chided  him. 

"  My,  but  you  look  awful  serious,  Mr.  Crocker!  " 
"  Am  I  ?  —  Yes,   I  suppose  so,"  he  said  absent- 
mindedly. 


A  CHIP  OF  THE  OLD  BLOCK 

He  went  through  into  the  inner  court  that  yesterday 
had  seemed  to  him  such  a  constricted  little  spot  in  the 
great  city  which  had  responded  to  his  fortunate 
touch.  Now,  in  the  falling  dusk,  with  the  lights 
blossoming  out,  the  court  seemed  very  big,  crowded 
with  human  beings  in  the  battle  of  life,  and  he  himself 
small  and  without  significance. 

"  Well,  I've  gone  and  done  it,"  he  said  to  himself 
with  a  half  laugh.  "  I  wonder  — " 

He  wondered,  now  that  it  was  all  over,  now  that 
the  curtain  had  dropped  on  the  drama  of  it,  whether 
after  all  Drake  had  been  right  —  whether  he  was 
seeing  life  through  his  emotions,  and  what  the  point 
of  view  of  thirty-five  and  forty  would  be  in  retro 
spection. 

"  Well,  I've  chucked  it  all,"  he  said,  lingering  in  the 
quiet  and  the  suffused  half  lights.  "  I  took  the  bit  in 
my  teeth.  There's  no  turning  back  now."  He  re 
membered  his  father  and  the  old  battling  look  of  de 
fiance  in  his  eyes  as  he  had  exhorted  his  son. 

"  Guess,  after  all,"  he  said  grimly,  feeling  all  at 
once  drawn  closer  to  his  own,  "  I  must  be  a  chip  of 
the  old  block." 

Granning  alone  was  in  the  study  as  he  came  in, 
spinning  his  hat  on  to  the  sofa. 

"  Well,  Granning,  I've  up  and  done  it,"  he  said 
shortly. 

"Eh,  what?"  said  Granning,  looking  up  rather 
alarmed. 

He  told  him. 

"  And  so,  Granning,  I'm  a  horny-handed  son  of 
labor  from  this  time  forth,"  he  said  in  conclusion. 
"You'll  have  to  find  me  a  job!  "  The  laugh  failed. 


MAKING  MONEY 

It  seemed  out  of  place  at  that  moment  with  Granning 
staring  at  him.  He  added  quietly:  "  Guess  self-re 
spect  is  worth  more  than  I  thought!  " 

"  God,  I'm  glad !  "  said  Granning,  bringing  down 
his  great  fist. 

He  had  never  in  all  the  long  friendship  seen  Gran 
ning  so  stirred ! 


CHAPTER  XX 

BOJO    HUNTS   A   JOB 

WELL,  now  to  hunt  a  job!  " 
He  woke  up  the  next  morning  with  this 
one  idea  dominant,  dressed  to  a  whistling  accompani 
ment,  and  came  gaily  to  breakfast.  A  load  seemed 
to  have  been  suddenly  lifted  from  his  mind,  the  day 
fair  and  the  future  keen  with  the  zest  of  a  good  fight 
without  favors.  The  breakfast  was  delicious  and  the 
air  alive  with  energy. 

"  Seems  to  me  you're  looking  rather  cocky,"  said 
Marsh,  studying  him  with  surprise. 

"  Never  felt  fitter  in  my  life,"  said  Bojo,  stealing 
a  roll  from  DeLancy,  who  had  completely  lost  his 
good  spirits. 

"  What's  up  ?     Going  to  trim  the  market  again  ?  " 

Bojo  laughed,  a  free  and  triumphant  laugh. 

"  Never  again  for  me ! "  He  added  quickly,  re 
membering  the  attitude  they  had  assumed  for  De- 
Lancy's  benefit :  "  Luck's  been  with  me  long  enough 
—  I'm  not  going  to  bank  on  luck  any  more !  " 

Fred  pushed  his  plate  from  him  and  went  into  the 
outer  room  without  meeting  their  glances. 

"  I  say,  Bojo,  one  thing  we  ought  to  do,"  said 
Marsh  under  his  breath :  "  get  after  the  infant  and 
give  him  a  solemn  dressing-down." 

"  You  don't  suppose  he's  fool  enough  to  try  the 
market  again  ?  " 

213 


"  Who  knows  what  he'll  do?  "  said  Marsh  gloom 
ily.  "  Sometimes  I  think  it  would  have  kept  him  out 
of  more  trouble  if  you'd  let  him  be  cleaned  out !  " 

"  You  mean  Louise  Varney  —  Good  Lord !  " 

"Exactly!" 

"Do  you  think  he  suspects?"  said  Bojo,  after  a 
moment's  hesitation  — "  I  mean  about  his  taking  a 
profit?" 

"  Of  course,"  said  Marsh  quietly. 

"  Poor  devil !  Well,  heavens,  I  can't  criticize 
him,"  said  Bojo,  moodily.  "  I  pretty  near  did  the 
same  thing." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  now  ?  "  said  Marsh, 
to  keep  the  conversation  clear  of  disturbing  memories. 

"  Going  to  start  in  on  a  new  job." 

"  What?  "  said  Marsh,  surprised. 

"  Oh,  I'm  going  to  look  around,"  said  Bojo  in  an 
offhand  sort  of  way.  "  I  want  something  solid  and 
real  —  constructive  is  the  word.  Well,  Roscy,  wish 
me  good  luck  —  I'm  starting  to  look  over  the  field 
this  morning."  He  rose  confident  and  happy,  slap 
ping  his  friend  on  the  shoulder,  with  the  old  boyish 
exhilaration.  "  By  Jove,  I'm  glad  to  have  it  over 
and  to  begin  a  real  life !  " 

"  Give  you  a  try  at  reporting,"  said  Marsh. 

"  Not  on  your  life.  I'm  going  out  for  something 
myself!  Hello  there,  old  Freddie-boy!  Got  your 
hair  on  straight?  Well,  then,  come  on  and  tell  Wall 
Street  what  to  do." 

An  hour  later,  still  full  of  confidence,  he  took  the 
bull  by  the  horns  and  entered  the  offices  of  Stoughton 
and  Bird.  Young  Stoughton  was  of  his  social  crowd, 
and  the  father  had  been  particularly  agreeable  to  him 


BOJO  HUNTS  A  JOB  215 

on  the  several  occasions  on  which  he  had  dined  at 
their  home.  The  house  was  known  for  its  conserv 
atism,  dealing  in  solid  investments. 

"  Hello,  Skeeter,"  said  Bojo,  giving  young  Stough- 
ton  his  college  nickname.  "  Is  the  Governor  busy  — 
could  he  see  me  ten  minutes?  " 

They  were  in  a  vast  outer  chamber  with  junior 
members  installed  at  distant  desks,  the  telephone  ring 
ing  at  every  moment. 

"  I  think  you've  caught  him  right,"  said  Stoughton, 
shaking  his  hand  cordially.  "  Wait  a  moment  —  I'll 
'phone  in."  He  nodded  presently.  "  Sure  enough 
—  go  right  in." 

Stoughton,  senior,  a  short,  well-groomed  man,  club 
man  and  whip,  pumped  his  hand  affably  with  the 
smiling  relaxation  of  one  who  throws  off  momen 
tarily  the  professional  manner. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  Tom.  I  was  asking  Jo  yester 
day  what  had  become  of  you.  Well,  what  have  you 
got  up  your  sleeve?  You  look  mighty  important. 
Want  to  sell  me  a  railroad  in  Mexico  or  half  of  a 
Western  State?" 

"  Nothing  like  that,"  said  Tom,  laughing  and  at  his 
ease  at  once.  "  What  I'm  looking  for  is  a  job." 

"  You  don't  mean  it,"  said  Stoughton  in  surprise. 

"  I  want  to  get  experience  along  solid  lines,"  said 
Bojo  confidentially.  "  In  conservative  financing 
and  investments.  I  don't  know  whether  you've  got 
anything  open,  but  if  you  have  I'd  like  to  apply." 

"  I  see."  Stoughton  nodded,  plainly  perplexed. 
"  Does  that  mean  you've  left  — " 

"  Hauk  and  Flaspoller  —  yes." 

Stoughton  frowned. 


216  MAKING  MONEY 

"  That's  poor  Charlie  Forshay's  firm,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  They  were  caught  pretty  hard  in  Pittsburgh  & 
New  Orleans,"  said  Stoughton  meditatively.  "  Yes, 
I  remember.  Were  you  caught  too?  " 

"  I  was." 

"  What  were  you  getting  there  ?  " 

"Of  course  I  don't  expect  to  get  what  I  was  mak 
ing  there  —  not  just  at  present,"  said  Bojo  mag 
nanimously.  "  I  was  getting  as  much  as  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  a  week  at  the  end." 

"  No,"  said  Stoughton,  without  the  flicker  of  a 
smile,  "  you  can't  expect  that."  The  social  affability 
had  faded.  Gradually  he  had  withdrawn  into  a  quiet 
defensive  attitude,  tinged  with  curiosity.  "  By  the 
way,  you  don't  mind  my  asking  a  discreet  question? 
Why  don't  you  try  Drake  ?  " 

Bojo  could  not  give  an  answer  which  would  reveal 
too  much,  but  he  contented  himself  with  saying 
frankly : 

"  Why,  Mr.  Stoughton,  I'd  rather  not  ask  favors. 
I'd  like  to  work  this  out  for  myself." 

"  Right,"  said  Stoughton,  brightening.  Still  beam 
ing,  he  added :  "  Wish  we  had  a  place  for  you  here. 
Unfortunately,  our  system  is  rather  complex  and  we 
start  a  man  at  the  bottom.  Of  course  we  wouldn't 
offer  you  anything  like  that.  You're  out  of  the  ten- 
dollar-a-week  class.  Besides,  you've  got  friends  — 
good  connections.  Lots  of  firms  would  be  glad  to 
get  you." 

"  I  want  to  get  into  something  sound.  I  want  to 
keep  away  from  just  brokers,"  said  Bojo,  much 
cheered. 


BOJO  HUNTS  A  JOB  217 

"And  you're  right,"  said  Stoughton,  nodding. 
He  drew  out  a  card  and  penciled  it.  "  You  know 
Harding  and  Stonebach?  Harding's  a  good  friend 
of  mine  —  give  him  this  card.  They're  what  you 
want  —  make  a  specialty  of  development,  electric 
plants,  street  railways,  and  that  sort  of  thing.  Big 
future  for  a  young  fellow  who's  got  a  talent  for  con 
structive  organization." 

"  That's  just  what  I  want,"  said  Bojo,  delighted. 
He  shook  hands,  thanking  him  effusively. 

Mr.  Harding  was  in  but  asked  him  to  call  after 
lunch.  He  wandered  about  the  Wall  Street  district, 
stopping  to  chat  with  several  acquaintances  on  the 
curb,  and  ate  lunch,  finding  it  hard  to  kill  time.  Back 
at  the  appointment,  he  was  forced  to  sit,  shifting  rest 
lessly,  watching  the  clock  hands  make  a  slow  full 
revolution  before  his  name  was  called.  This  enforced 
wait,  stealing  glances  at  the  flitting  procession  of  pur 
poseful  visitors  and  the  two  or  three  oldish  men, 
neither  impatient  nor  very  hopeful,  who  came  after 
him,  biding  their  turn,  somehow  robbed  him  of  all  his 
confidence.  His  head  was  weary  with  the  click  of 
typewriters  and  the  fire  of  his  assurance  out.  He 
tried  to  state  his  case  concisely  and  promptly,  and  felt 
hurried  and  embarrassed. 

In  two  minutes  he  was  out  in  the  hall  again,  the 
interview  for  which  he  had  waited  a  day,  over.  Mr. 
Harding,  with  incisive,  businesslike  despatch,  had 
taken  his  card  and  noted  his  address,  promising  to 
notify  him  if  occasion  arose.  He  understood  it  wras 
a  dismissal.  As  he  went  out,  one  of  the  oldish  men 
arose  without  emotion  at  the  new  summons,  folding 
his  newspaper  and  pocketing  his  spectacles.  Bojo  re- 


218  MAKING  MONEY 

turned  to  the  Court,  essaying  to  laugh  down  his  dis 
appointment,  yielding  already  to  the  subtle  depression 
of  being  a  straggler  and  watching  the  army  sweep 
by. 

The  next  day  he  continued  his  quest,  the  next  and 
all  of  that  week.  Sometimes  he  met  with  curt  re 
fusal  that  left  a  scar  on  his  pride;  sometimes  he 
seemed  to  gain  headway  and  have  opportunity  almost 
on  his  ringers  until  somehow,  sooner  or  later,  in  the 
categorical  questioning  it  transpired  that  his  last  ven 
ture  had  been  with  a  firm  of  speculative  brokers  who 
had  been  caught  and  squeezed.  Gradually  it  dawned 
upon  him  that  there  was  something  strange  in  the  re 
sulting  sudden  shift  of  attitude,  a  superstition  of  the 
Street  itself,  a  gambler's  dread  of  failure,  an  in 
stinctive  horror  of  any  one  who  had  been  touched 
with  misfortune,  as  the  living  hurry  from  the  dead. 
The  feeling  of  loneliness  began  to  creep  over  him. 
Alarmed,  he  steadfastly  refused  all  week-end  invita 
tions. 

One  Sunday  his  father  turned  up  suddenly  in  the 
Court,  shook  hands  with  Granning,  who  alone  kept 
him  company,  and  passed  a  few  perfunctory  remarks 
with  his  son. 

"  How  is  it  you  haven't  been  to  me  for  money  ?  "  he 
said  gruffly. 

Bo  jo  answered  with  a  lightness  he  was  far  from 
feeling : 

"  Well,  they  haven't  taken  it  away  from  me  yet, 
Dad." 

"  Mighty  sorry  to  hear  it."  He  looked  him  over 
critically.  "  In  good  shape?  " 


BOJO  HUNTS  A  JOB  219 

"  Fine." 

"  Get  enough  sleep  and  don't  do  much  sitting  up 
and  counting  the  stars?  " 

"  Hardly.     How've  you  been?  " 

"  Sound  as  a  drum." 

"  How's  the  business,  father?  " 

The  question  brought  them  perilously  near  what 
each  had  in  mind.  Perhaps  one  word  of  daring 
would  have  broken  down  the  pride  of  their  mutual 
obstinacy.  Mr.  Crocker  growled  out : 

"  Business  is  mighty  shaky.  Your  precious  Wall 
Street  and  politics  have  got  every  one  scared  to  death. 
Mighty  lucky  we'll  be  if  a  crash  doesn't  hit  us." 

Had  Bojo  defended  himself,  the  father  might  have 
reopened  the  question  of  his  entering  the  mills ;  but  he 
didn't,  and  after  a  few  minutes  of  indefinite  seeking 
for  an  opening  Mr.  Crocker  went  off  as  abruptly  as  he 
had  come. 

The  next  morning  Bojo,  to  end  this  depressing 
period  of  inactivity,  made  a  resolve  to  accept  any  op 
portunity,  no  matter  how  humble  the  salary,  and  went 
down  to  see  Mr.  Stoughton  to  ask  him  for  the  chance 
to  start  at  the  bottom.  Skeeter  received  him  with 
the  same  cordiality  as  before,  but  access  to  the  father 
was  not  to  be  had  that  day.  In  desperation  he  sat 
down  and  wrote  his  request.  Two  days  later  he  re 
ceived  his  answer  in  the  evening  mail. 

Mr.  Thomas  Crocker. 
Dear  Tom : 

Please  forgive  any  delay  due  to  press  of  business.  Just 
at  present  there  is  no  vacancy,  and  frankly  I  would  not  advise 
you  to  take  the  step  even  if  there  were.  I  know  you  are  young 
and  impatient  to  be  at  work  again,  but  I  can  not  but  feel  that 


220  MAKING  MONEY 

you  would  not  be  happy  in  making  such  a  radical  move,  par 
ticularly  when  at  any  moment  the  opportunity  you  are  looking 
for  may  turn  up. 

Cordially  yours, 

J.  N.  STOUGHTON. 

Granning  came  in  as  he  was  sitting  by  the  waste- 
basket  and  slowly  tearing  this  letter  into  minute 
shreds. 

"  Hello,  young  fellow  —  what  luck?  " 

"  I  think  I'm  on,"  said  Bojo,  slowly,  feeling  all  at 
once  shelved  and  abandoned.  "  The  last  thing  people 
down-town  have  any  use  for,  Granning,  is  a  busted 
broker!" 

"  You  have  found  that  out,  have  you?  "  said  Gran 
ning  quickly. 

Bojo  nodded. 

"  Well,  you're  right."  He  sat  down.  "  See  here, 
old  sport,  why  don't  you  do  the  thing  you  ought  to 
do?" 

"What's  that?" 

"  Go  down  and  see  the  old  man  and  tell  him  you're 
ready  to  start  for  the  mills  to-morrow !  " 

"  No,  no,  I  can't  do  that." 

"  You  want  to  do  it,  at  heart.  It's  only  pride  that's 
keeping  you." 

"  Perhaps,  but  that  pride  means  a  lot  to  me,"  said 
Bojo  doggedly.  "  Never !  I'm  not  going  to  him  a 
failure.  So  shut  up  about  that." 

"  Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

Bojo  began  to  whistle,  looking  out  the  window. 

"  Suppose  I  were  to  offer  you  a  job  over  at  the  fac 
tory?" 


BOJO  HUNTS  A  JOB  221 

"  Would  you?  "  said  Bojo,  looking  up  with  a  leap 
ing  heart. 

"  That  means  starting  in  on  rock  bottom  —  as  I  did. 
Up  at  six,  there  at  seven  —  beginning  as  a  day  laborer 
on  a  beautifully  oily  and  smudgy  blanking  machine 
among  a  bunch  of  Polacks." 

"  Will  you  give  me  a  chance?"  said  Bojo  breath 
lessly. 

"  Will  you  stick  it  out?" 

"You  bet  I  will!" 

"Done!" 

And  they  shook  hands  with  a  resounding  smack 
that  seemed  to  explode  all  Bo  jo's  pent-up  feelings. 

"  All  right,  young  fellow,"  said  Granning  with  a 
grin.  "  To-morrow  we'll  find  out  what  sort  of  stuff 
you're  made  of !  " 


CHAPTER  XXI 

BOJO  IN  OVERALLS 

r~PHE  day  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Dyer-Gar- 
1  nett  Caster  and  Foundry  Company  was  like  an 
open  door  into  the  wonderland  of  industry.  The  sun, 
red  and  wrapped  in  dull  mists,  came  stolidly  out  of  the 
east  as  they  crossed  the  river  in  the  unearthly  grays, 
with  electric  lights  showing  in  wan  ferry-boats. 
When  they  entered  the  factory  a  few  minutes  before 
seven,  the  laborers  were  passing  the  time-clocks, 
punching  their  tickets,  Polack  and  Saxon,  Hun  and 
American,  Irish  and  Italian,  the  men  a  mixture  of 
slouchy,  unskilled  laborers  and  keen,  strong  mechan 
ics,  home-owners  and  thinkers,  the  women  of  rather 
a  higher  class,  bright-eyed,  deft,  with  a  prevailing  in 
stinct  for  coquetry. 

In  the  offices  Dyer,  lanky  New  Englander,  engineer 
and  inventor,  and  Garnett,  the  president,  self-made, 
simple  and  shrewd,  both  in  their  shirt  sleeves,  gave  him 
a  cordial  welcome.  Unbeknown  to  Bo  jo,  Granning 
had  given  a  flattering  picture  of  his  future  destination 
as  heir  apparent  to  the  famous  Crocker  mills  and  his 
progressive  desire  for  preliminary  experience  in  fac 
tories  that  were  handling  problems  of  labor-saving 
along  modern  lines. 

"  Glad  to  meet  you,"  said  Garnett,  gripping  his 
hand.  "  Mr.  Granning  tells  me  you  want  to  see  the 

223 


BOJO  IN  OVERALLS  223 

whole  scheme  from  the  bottom  up.  It's  not  playing 
football,  Mr.  Crocker." 

"  Hope  not,"  said  Bojo  with  a  smile.  "  It's  very 
good  of  you  to  give  me  an  opportunity." 

"  Don't  know  how  you'll  feel  about  it  after  a  couple 
of  weeks.  I'll  get  Davy  —  that's  my  son  —  to  show 
you  around.  We're  doing  some  things  here  you'll 
be  interested  in.  Mr.  Dyer's  just  installed  some  very 
pretty  machines.  Davy'll  put  you  onto  the  ropes  — 
he's  just  been  through  it.  That's  a  great  plant  of 
your  father's  —  went  through  it  last  year.  Nothing 
finer  in  the  country." 

He  found  young  Garnett  a  boy  of  twenty,  just  out 
of  high-school,  alert,  eager,  and  stocked  with  practical 
knowledge.  The  morning  he  spent  in  exploration 
was  a  revelation.  In  his  old  prejudice  against  what 
he  had  confusedly  termed  "  business  "  he  had  always 
recoiled  as  before  a  leveling  process,  stultifying  to  the 
imagination,  a  thing  of  mechanical  movements  and 
disciplined  drudgery.  He  found  instead  his  imagina 
tion  leaping  forward  before  the  spectacle  of  each  suc 
ceeding  regiment  of  machines,  before  the  feeling  of 
progress,  of  the  constant  advance  toward  the  harness 
ing  of  iron  and  steel  things  to  the  bidding  of  the 
human  mind. 

Cars  were  being  switched  at  the  sidings,  unloading 
their  cargoes  of  coiled  steel ;  other  cars  were  receiving 
the  completed  article,  product  of  a  score  of  intricate 
processes,  stamped,  turned,  assembled,  and  hammered 
together,  plated,  lacquered,  burnished,  and  packed  for 
distribution.  He  had  but  a  confused  impression  at 
first  of  these  rooms  of  tireless  wheels,  automatic 
feeders  and  monstrous  weights  that  sliced  solid  steel 


224.  MAKING  MONEY 

like  paper.  The  noises  deafened  him:  the  sandy, 
grinding  whirl  of  the  tumbling  room,  the  colliding 
shock  of  the  blanking  machines,  the  steel  hiss  of  the 
burnishers  —  deafening  voices  that  in  the  ensuing 
months  were  to  become  articulate  utterances  to  his 
informed  ears,  songs  of  triumph,  prophetic  of  a  com 
ing  age. 

In  the  burnishing-room  grotesque  human  and  in 
human  arms  reached  down  from  a  central  pipe  to  the 
poisonous  gases  of  the  miniature  furnaces. 

"  Granning's  idea,"  said  young  Garnett.  "  Carries 
off  the  fumes.  This  room  was  a  hell  before.  Now 
it's  clean  and  safe  as  a  garden.  Here's  a  machine 
the  Governor's  just  installed  —  does  the  work  of  six 
women.  Isn't  it  a  beauty  ?  " 

Bojo  looked  beyond  it  to  the  clustered  groups  of 
women  by  long  counters  piled  with  steel  parts,  work 
ing  rapidly  at  slow,  intricate  processes  of  assembling. 

"  I  suppose  you'll  get  a  machine  some  day  to  do  all 
that  too,"  he  said. 

"  Sure.  Wherever  you  see  more  than  two  at  a  job 
there's  something  to  be  done.  Look  here."  They 
stood  by  a  couple  of  swarthy  Polack  women,  who  were 
placing  tiny  plugs  in  grooves  on  round  surfaces  to  be 
covered  and  fastened  with  ball-bearing  casters. 
"  Looks  pretty  tough  proposition  to  get  out  of  those 
fingers.  We've  worked  two  years  at  it,  but  we'll  get 
them  yet.  It's  the  slug  shape  that  makes  it  hard ;  the 
simple  ball-bearings  were  a  cinch.  Here's  how  we 
worked  that  out." 

A  machine  was  under  Bojo's  eyes  that  caught  the 
open  roller  and  plunged  it  into  a  circular  arena,  where 
from  six  converging  gates  steel  balls  were  released  and 


BOJO  IN  OVERALLS  225 

fell  instantly  into  place,  a  fraction  of  a  second  before 
the  upper  cover,  descending,  was  fixed  and  hammered 
down. 

"  One  hundred  and  fifty  a  minute  against  thirty  to 
forty,  and  two  operations  made  into  one." 

"  But  you  can't  do  the  same  thing  with  an  irregular 
slug,"  said  Bojo,  amazed. 

"  There's  a  way  somehow,"  said  Garnett,  smiling  at 
the  tribute  of  his  astonishment.  "If  you  want  to  see 
what  a  machine  can  do,  look  at  this,  the  pride  of  the 
shop." 

"  Who's  watching  it?"  said  Bojo,  surprised  to  see 
no  one  in  attendance. 

"  Not  a  soul.  It's  a  wise  old  machine.  All  we  do 
is  to  fill  up  the  hamper  once  an  hour,  and  it  goes 
ahead,  feeds  itself,  juggles  a  bit,  hammers  on  a  head, 
and  fills  up  its  can,  two  hundred  a  minute." 

In  a  large  feeding-box,  a  tangled  mass  of  small 
steel  pins,  banded  at  one  end,  were  rising  and  falling, 
settling  and  readjusting  themselves.  A  thin  grooved 
plate  rose  and  fell  into  the  mass,  sucking  into  its 
groove,  or  catching  in  its  upward  progress,  from  one 
to  six  of  the  pins,  which,  perpendicularly  arranged, 
slid  down  to  a  new  crisis.  Steel  fingers  caught  each 
pin  as  released,  threw  it  with  a  half  turn  into  another 
groove,  where  it  was  again  passed  forward  and  fixed 
in  shape  for  the  crushing  hammer  blow  that  was  to 
flatten  the  head.  A  safety-device  based  on  exact  ten 
sion  stopped  the  machine  instantly  in  case  of  accident. 

"  Suffering  Moses,  is  it  possible!  "  said  Bojo,  star 
ing  like  a  schoolboy.  "  Never  saw  anything  like  it." 

"  Gives  you  an  idea  what  can  be  done,  doesn't  it?  " 

"It  does!" 


226  MAKING  MONEY 

Then  he  began  to  see  these  strangely  human  ma 
chines  and  these  mechanical  human  beings  in  a  larger 
perspective,  in  a  constant  warfare,  each  ceaselessly 
struggling  with  the  other,  each  unconsciously  being 
fashioned  in  the  likeness  of  his  enemey. 

"  When  we've  got  the  human  element  down  to  the 
lowest  terms,  then  we'll  fight  machines  with  machin 
ery,  I  suppose,"  said  Garnett. 

"  Makes  you  sort  of  wonder  what'll  be  done  fifty 
years  from  now,"  said  Bojo. 

"  Doesn't  it  ?  "  said  Garnett.  "  I  wouldn't  dare  tell 
you  what  the  Governor  talks  about.  You'd  think  he's 
plum  crazy." 

"  By  George,  I  feel  like  starting  now." 

"  Same  way  I  did,"  said  Garnett,  nodding.  "  I 
suppose  what  you'll  want  will  be  to  follow  the  whole 
process  from  the  beginning.  It  gives  you  a  general 
idea.  I  say,  that's  a  great  machine  your  father's  just 
installed." 

He  began  to  expatiate  enthusiastically  on  an  article 
he  had  read  in  a  technical  paper,  assuming  full  knowl 
edge  on  Bo  jo's  part,  who  listened  in  wonder,  already 
beginning  to  feel,  beyond  the  horizon  of  these  ani 
mated  iron  shapes,  the  mysterious  realms  of  human 
invention  he  had  so  long  misunderstood. 

The  next  morning,  in  overalls  and  flannels,  he  took 
his  pjace  in  the  moving  throngs  and  found  his  own 
time-card,  a  numbered  part  of  a  great  industrial  bat 
talion.  He  was  apprenticed  to  Mike  Monahan,  a 
grizzled,  good-humored  veteran,  whose  early  attitude 
of  suspicion  disappeared  with  Bojo's  plunge  into 
grime  and  grease.  He  was  himself  conscious  of  a 
strange  bashfulness  which  he  had  never  experienced 


BOJO  IN  OVERALLS  227 

in  his  contact  with  Wall  Street  men.  It  seemed  to 
him  that  these  earnest,  life-giving  hordes  of  labor 
must  look  down  on  him  as  a  useless,  unimportant 
specimen.  When  he  came  to  take  his  place  in  the 
early  morning,  sorting  out  his  time-card,  he  was  con 
scious  of  their  glances  and  always  felt  awkward  as  he 
passed  from  room  to  room.  Gradually,  being  es 
sentially  simple  and  manly  in  his  instincts,  he  won  his 
way  into  the  friendly  comprehension  of  his  associates, 
living  on  their  terms,  seeking  their  company,  talking 
their  talk,  with  a  dawning  avid  curiosity  in  their 
points  of  view,  their  needs,  and  their  opinions  of  his 
own  class. 

Garnett  had  not  exaggerated  when  he  had  said  that 
the  work  was  not  playing  football.  There  were  days 
at  first  when  the  constant  mental  application  and  the 
mechanical  iteration  amid  the  dinning  shocks  in  the 
air  left  him  completely  fagged  in  mind  and  body. 
When  he  returned  home  it  was  with  no  thought  of 
theater  or  restaurant,  but  with  the  joy  of  repose. 
Moreover,  to  his  surprise,  he  found  that  he  awaited 
the  arrival  of  Sunday  eagerly  for  the  opportunity 
of  reading  along  the  lines  where  his  imagination  had 
been  stirred.  As  he  studied  the  factory  closer,  his 
pleasure  lay  in  long  discussions  with  Granning  over 
such  subjects  as  the  utilization  of  refuse,  the  pos 
sible  saving  of  time  in  the  weekly  cleanings  by  some 
process  of  construction  which  might  permit  of  quicker 
concentration,  or  the  possibility  of  further  safety-de 
vices. 

He  saw  Doris  every  Sunday,  in  the  afternoon, 
often  staying  for  the  dinner  and  departing  soon  after. 
Patsie  was  never  present  at  these  meals.  A  month 


228  MAKING  MONEY 

later,  he  heard  that  she  had  left  on  a  round  of  visits. 
Mr.  Drake  often  made  humorous  allusions  to  his  en 
forced  servitude,  but  never  attempted  to  sway  his 
course,  being  too  good  a  judge  of  human  nature  to 
underestimate  the  intensity  of  the  young  man's  con 
victions.  Doris  had  completely  changed  in  her  atti 
tude  toward  him.  She  no  longer  sought  to  direct, 
but  seemed  content  to  accept  his  views  in  quiet  sub 
mission.  He  found  her  simple  and  straightforward, 
patiently  resigned  to  wait  his  decisions.  He  could 
not  honestly  say  to  himself  that  he  was  madly  in  love, 
yet  he  owned  to  a  feeling  of  growing  respect  and 
genuine  affection. 

Matters  went  on  according  to  the  routine  of  the 
day  without  much  change  while  the  spring  passed  into 
the  hot  stretches  of  summer.  The  exigencies  of  the 
life  of  discipline  he  had  enforced  on  himself  had 
withdrawn  him  more  and  more  from  the  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  every-day  life  of  Marsh,  whose 
hours  did  not  coincide  with  his,  and  of  DeLancy,  who, 
since  the  episode  of  the  speculation  in  Pittsburgh  & 
New  Orleans,  had,  from  a  feeling  of  unease,  seemed 
to  avoid  his  old  friends.  Occasionally  in  her  letters 
from  the  country  Doris  mentioned  the  fact  that 
Gladys  had  been  to  visit  her  and  that  she  thought 
Fred  was  rather  neglectful;  but  beyond  that  he  was 
completely  ignorant  of  his  friend's  sentimental  stand 
ing  either  with  Gladys  or  with  Louise  Varney,  so  that 
wThat  happened  came  to  him  like  a  bolt  out  of  the 
blue. 

Toward  the  end  of  July  Fred  DeLancy  married 
Louise  Varney. 

It  was  on  a  Friday  night  when  Marsh,  after  an 


BOJO  IN  OVERALLS 

unusual  tarrying  in  the  den,  was  preparing  to  return 
to  the  office,  that  DeLancy,  to  their  surprise,  came 
into  the  room.  In  response  to  their  chorused  wel 
come,  he  flung  back  a  curt  acknowledgment,  looked 
around  gravely  in  momentary  hesitation,  and  finally 
installed  himself  on  the  edge  of  a  chair,  bending  for 
ward,  his  hat  between  his  knees,  turning  in  his  hands. 
The  others  exchanged  glances  of  interrogation,  for 
such  seriousness  on  Fred's  part  usually  presaged  a 
scrape  or  a  disaster. 

"Well,  infant,  why  so  solemn?"  said  Marsh. 
"  Been  getting  into  trouble  lately  ?  " 

DeLancy  looked  up  and  down. 

"  Nope." 

"  There's  not  much  information  in  that,"  said 
Marsh  cheerily.  "  Well,  what's  the  secret  sorrow  ? 
Out  with  it !  " 

"  There's  nothing  wrong,"  said  DeLancy  quietly. 
He  began  to  whistle,  staring  at  the  floor. 

"  Oh,  very  well,"  said  Marsh  in  an  offended  tone. 

They  sat,  watching  him,  for  quite  a  moment,  in 
silence.  Finally  DeLancy  spoke,  slowly  and  monot 
onously  : 

"  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  a  serious  decision !  " 

Again  they  waited  without  questioning  him,  while 
he  frowned  and  seemed  to  choose  his  words. 

"  You  will  think  I  have  gone  out  of  my  head,  I 
suppose.  Well  —  I  am  going  to  be  married  —  to 
night  —  at  eleven." 

"  Louise  Varney  ?  "  said  Marsh,  jumping  up,  while 
Granning  and  Bojo  stared  at  each  other  blankly. 

"  Yes." 

"You  damned  fool!" 


230  MAKING  MONEY 

At  this  Fred  started  up  wildly  with  an  oath,  but 
Granning  interposed  with  a  warning  cry. 

"  You  fool  —  you  idiot !  "  cried  Marsh,  furiously. 
"  Shoot  yourself  —  cut  your  throat  —  but  don't  — 
don't  do  that !  " 

"  Shut  up,  Roscy,  that  does  no  good! "  said  Bojo 
quickly.  He  seized  Fred  by  the  wrist :  "  Fred,  hon 
estly —  you're  going  to  marry  her  —  to-night?  " 

DeLancy  nodded,  his  mouth  grim. 

"  Oh,  Fred,  you  don't  know  what  you're  doing !  " 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  he  said,  sitting  down.  "  It's  nothing 
hasty.  It's  been  coming  for  months.  I  know  what 
I'm  doing." 

"  But  —  but  the  other  —  Fred,  you  can't  —  in  de 
cency  you  can't  —  not  like  this." 

"  Shut  up !  "  said  DeLancy,  wincing. 

"  No,  no,  you  can't  like  this,"  said  Bojo  indig 
nantly. 

"  By  heavens,  he  sha'n't,"  said  Marsh  angrily. 
"  If  we  have  to  tie  him  up  and  keep  him  here  —  he's 
not  going  to  ruin  two  lives  like  this,  the  lunatic !  " 

"  Go  easy,"  said  Granning,  with  a  warning  glance. 

But,  contrary  to  expectation,  Fred  did  not  resent 
the  attack.  When  he  spoke,  it  was  with  a  shrug 
of  his  shoulders,  in  a  tired,  unresisting  voice : 

"  It's  no  use,  Roscy.     It's  settled  and  done  for." 

"  Why,  Fred,  old  boy,  can't  you  see  clear  ?  "  said 
Roscy,  coming  to  him  with  a  changed  tone.  "  Don't 
you  know  what  this  means?  You're  not  a  fool. 
Think !  I'm  not  saying  a  word  against  Louise." 

"  You'd  better  not !  "  said  Fred,  flushing. 

"  Her  character's  as  good  as  any  one  else's  — 
granted  that.  But,  Fred,  that's  not  all.  She's  not  of 


BOJO  IN  OVERALLS  231 

your  world,  her  mother's  not  —  her  friends  are  not. 
If  you  marry  her,  Fred,  as  sure  as  there's  a  sun  in 
heaven,  you're  ended,  done  for;  you're  dropped  out 
of  the  world  and  you'll  never  get  back !  " 

"  Well,  I'm  going  to  do  it,"  said  DeLancy,  stub 
bornly. 

"  You're  going  to  do  it  and  deliberately  throw  over 
every  friend  and  every  attachment  you've  got  in 
life?" 

"  I  don't  admit  that." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  live  on  ?  "  said  Granning. 

"  I've  got  the  money  I  made  and  what  I  make." 

"  What  you  make  now,"  said  Marsh,  seizing  the 
opening,  "  what  you  make  because  you  know  people 
and  bring  down  customers!  You  yourself  said  it. 
But  when  you  drop  out  of  society  you'll  drop  out  of 
business.  You  know  it." 

"  I  may  fool  you  yet,"  said  Fred  angrily. 

"  You  think  you  can  play  the  Wall  Street  game  and 
beat  it,"  said  Bojo,  divining  his  thought.  "  Fred,  if 
you  marry,  whatever  else  you  do  —  quit  gambling." 
Knowing  more  than  the  others,  he  had  from  the  first 
known  the  hopelessness  of  argument.  Still  he  per 
sisted  blindly.  "  Fred,  can't  you  wait  and  think  it 
over  —  let  us  talk  it  over  with  you  ?  " 

"  I  can't,  Bojo,  I  can't.     I've  given  my  word !  " 

"  Good  God ! "  said  Marsh,  raising  his  hands  to 
heaven  in  fury. 

"  Fred,  can't  you  see  what  Roscy  says  is  true  ?  " 
said  Granning,  quieter  than  the  rest. 

"  Even  so,  I'm  going  to  do  it,"  said  Fred,  in  a  low 
voice. 

"But  why?" 


232  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Because  I'm  crazy,  mad  in  love,"  said  Fred,  jump 
ing  up  and  pacing  around.  "  Infatuated  ?  —  Yes !  — 
Mad?  —  Yes!  But  there  it  is.  I  can't  do  without 
her.  I've  been  like  a  wild  man  all  these  months. 
Whether  it  ruins  me  or  not,  I  can't  help  it  —  I've  got 
to  have  her,  and  that's  all  there  is  to  it !  " 

"  Then  I  guess  that's  all  there  is  to  it,"  repeated 
Granning  solemnly. 

Marsh  swore  a  fearful  oath  and  went  out. 

"  I  want  to  talk  to  him  a  moment,"  said  Bojo,  turn 
ing  to  Granning  with  a  nod.  Granning  went  into  the 
bedroom,  while  Bojo  drew  nearer  to  DeLancy. 
"  Fred,  let's  talk  this  over  quietly." 

"  Oh,  I  know  what  you're  going  to  fling  at  me/' 
said  Fred  miserably.  "  Gladys  and  all  that.  I  know 
I'm  a  beast,  I've  no  excuse.  But,  Bojo,  I'm  half 
wild!  I  don't  know  what  I'm  doing  —  honest  I 
don't!" 

"  Is  it  as  bad  as  all  that,  old  fellow?  "  said  Bojo. 
shaking  his  head. 

"  It's  awful  —  awful."  He  sat  down,  burying  his 
head  in  his  hands. 

"  Fred,  answer  me  —  do  you  yourself  want  to  do 
this?" 

"  How  do  I  know  what  I  want !  "  he  said  breath 
lessly.  He  raised  his  head,  staring  in  front.  "  I 
suppose  it  will  end  me  with  the  crowd.  I  suppose 
that's  true.  Bojo,  I  know  everything  that  it  will 
do  to  me  —  everything.  I  know  it's  suicide.  But, 
Bojo,  that  doesn't  do  any  good.  Reasoning  doesn't 
do  any  good  —  what's  got  to  be  has  got  to  be!  Now 
I've  told  you.  You'll  see  it's  no  use." 


BOJO  IN  OVERALLS  233 

"I  hope  it  will  work  out  better  than  we  think," 
said  Bojo,  solemnly.  "And  Gladys?" 

"  I  wrote  to  her." 

"When?" 

"Yesterday."  He  hesitated.  "Her  letters  and 
one  or  two  things  —  they're  done  up  in  a  pile." 

"  I'll  get  them  to  her." 

"  Thank  you."  He  turned.  "  I  say,  Bojo,  stand 
by  me  in  this,  won't  you?  I've  got  to  have  some  one. 
Will  you?" 

"  All  right.     I'll  come." 

At  eleven  o'clock  in  a  little  church  up  in  Harlem 
he  stood  by  DeLancy's  side  while  the  words  were  said 
that  he  knew  meant  the  end  of  all  things  for  him 
in  the  worldly  world  he  had  chosen  for  his  own.  It 
was  more  like  an  execution,  and  Bojo  had  a  guilty, 
horribly  guilty,  feeling,  as  though  he  were  participat 
ing  in  a  crime. 

"  Louise  looks  beautiful,"  he  found  the  heart  to 
whisper. 

"Yes,  doesn't  she?"  said  Fred  gratefully,  with 
such  a  sudden  leap  in  the  eyes  that  Bojo  felt  some 
thing  choking  in  his  throat. 

He  waved  them  good-by  after  he  had  put  them  in 
the  automobile,  and  took  Mrs.  Varney  and  a  Miss 
Dingier,  the  maid  of  honor,  home  in  a  taxi.  It  wras 
all  very  gloomy,  shoddy,  and  depressing. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

DORIS    MEETS   A    CRISIS 

IT  was  toward  the  end  of  August,  when  the  dry 
exhaustion  of  the  summer  had  begun  to  be  touched 
with  the  healing  cool  of  delicious  nights,  that  Bojo 
and  Granning  were  lolling  on  the  window-seat,  busy 
at  their  pipes.  Below  in  the  Court  foggy  shapes  were 
sunk  in  cozy  chairs  under  the  spread  of  the  great  cot 
ton  umbrella,  and  the  languid  echoes  of  wandering, 
contented  conversation  came  to  them  like  the  pleasant 
closing  sounds  of  the  day  across  twilight  fields  —  the 
homing  jingle  of  cattle,  the  returning  creak  of  laden 
wagons  seeking  the  barns,  or  a  tiny  distant  welcome 
from  a  barking  throat. 

"Ouf!  It's  good  to  get  a  lung- full  of  cool  air 
again,"  said  Bojo,  turning  gratefully  to  an  easier 
position. 

"  Well,  how  do  you  like  being  a  horny-handed  son 
of  toil?  "  said  Granning. 

"  I  like  it." 

"  You're  through  the  worst  of  it  now." 

"  It's  sort  of  like  being  in  training  again,"  said 
Bojo  reminiscently.  "  Jove,  how  they  used  to  drive 
us  in  the  fall  —  the  old  slave  drivers !  It's  great, 
though,  to  feel  you've  earned  the  right  to  rest.  I 
say,  Granning,  it's  a  funny  thing,  but  you  know  that 
first  raise,  ten  dollars  a  week,  thrilled  me  more  than 

234 


DORIS  MEETS  A  CRISIS  235 

making  thirty  thousand  in  a  clip.  Come  to  think  of 
it,  I  don't  believe  I  ever  really  made  that  money." 

"  You  didn't." 

Bojo  laughed.  "  Well,  this  is  a  man's  life,"  he  said 
evasively.  Then  suddenly :  "  What  precious  idiots 
we  were  that  first  night,  prophesying  our  lives. 
Poor  old  Freddie,  who  was  going  to  marry  a  million 
and  all  that  —  and  weren't  we  indignant,  though,  at 
him!  A  fine  grave  he's  dug  for  himself  now. 
Queer." 

"  I  like  him  better  than  if  he'd  married  the  other 
girl  in  cold  blood." 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  I  do  too.  Still  — "  He  broke 
off.  "  Do  you  believe  he's  had  the  sense  to  get  out 
of  the  market?  " 

"  No,"  said  Granning  shortly. 

"  Good  Lord,  if  I  thought  that,  I'd  — " 

"  You'd  do  nothing.  You  can't  help  him  — 
neither  can  I  or  any  one.  After  all  —  don't  think  I'm 
hard,  but  what  does  it  natter  what  happens  to  fellows 
like  Fred  DeLancy?  What's  important  is  what  hap 
pens  to  men  who've  got  power  and  energy  and  are 
trying  to  force  their  way  up.  Men  you  and  I 
know  — " 

"  That's  rather  cruel." 

"  Well,  life  is  cruel.  My  sympathy  is  with  the 
fellow  that's  knocking  for  opportunity,  not  the  fellow 
who's  throwing  it  away.  Bojo,  the  salvation  of  this 
country  isn't  in  making  sinecures  for  good-natured, 
lovable  chaps  of  the  second  generation,  but  in  sorting 
'em  out  and  letting  the  weak  ones  fall  behind.  Keep 
open  the  doors  to  those  who  are  coming  up." 

"  I  don't  think  you've  ever  forgiven  Fred  for  tak- 


236  MAKING  MONEY 

ing  that  money,"  said  Bojo  reluctantly.  "  You  don't 
like  him." 

"  I  did  like  him  —  but  I've  grown  beyond  him  — 
and  so  have  you,"  said  Granning  bluntly.  In  the  last 
few  months  he  had  come  to  speak  his  mind  directly  to 
Bojo,  with  results  that  sometimes  shocked  the 
younger  man. 

At  this  moment  the  telephone  rang. 

"  Shuffle  over  to  it,"  said  Granning,  withdrawing 
his  legs.  "  No  one  ever  telephones  for  me." 

"  It  may  be  from  Fred  —  perhaps  they're  back," 
said  Bojo,  departing. 

He  came  back  in  a  few  moments  rather  excited. 

"  That's  queer  —  it's  from  Doris." 

"  Been  rather  neglectful,  haven't  you?  " 

"  It  wasn't  long  distance.     She's  here !  " 

"Here  — in  town?" 

"  Yes.  Funny  she  didn't  warn  me,"  said  Bojo, 
mystified.  He  dug  out  his  hat  from  the  crowded 
desk  and  halted  before  the  reclining  figure.  "  Well, 
I'm  summoned.  Sorry  to  leave  you.  Felt  just  like 
rambling  along." 

"  Well,  be  firm." 

"What?" 

"  Be  firm." 

"  Now  just  what  did  he  mean  by  that?  "  he  said  to 
himself  as  he  tripped  down  the  stairs  and  out.  He 
puzzled  more  over  this  advice  as  he  hastened  up 
town.  Why  had  Doris  come,  abruptly  and  without 
notification  ?  The  more  he  thought  of  it,  the  more  he 
believed  he  understood  the  reason  of  Granning's 
warning.  Doris  had  come  to  him  with  some  new 
proposition,  an  investment  for  quick  returns  or  an 


DORIS  MEETS  A  CRISIS  237 

opening  along  lines  of  increasing  salaries.  The  open 
surface-car  with  its  cargo  of  coatless  men  and  shirt- 
waisted  women  went  pounding  up  the  Avenue,  hurry 
ing  him  toward  Doris. 

He  would  have  been  at  loss  to  define  to  himself  his 
real  feelings.  Despite  the  sudden  awakening  in  her, 
the  delirious  quality  of  romance  had  not  returned 
to  him.  Memories  of  another  face  and  other  hours 
had  ended  that.  Yet  there  was  a  solid  feeling  of  do 
ing  the  right  thing,  of  playing  square  by  Doris,  and 
of  a  responsibility  well  performed.  In  the  long, 
crowded,  heated  weeks  there  were  long  intervals  when 
he  forgot  her  entirely.  Yet  when  he  saw  her  or 
opened  her  letters,  poignant  with  solicitude  and  faith, 
he  felt  his  imagination  kindle,  if  but  for  the  mo 
ment. 

He  had  reached  the  self-conscious  stage  in  youth 
when  he  looked  upon  himself  as  supernaturally  old 
and  tried  in  the  furnace  of  experience.  He  quieted 
the  dormant  longings  in  his  heart  by  assuring  him 
self  that  he  now  took  a  different  view  of  marriage, 
a  more  significant  one  —  as  a  grave  social  step.  The 
less  he  felt  the  romance  of  their  relations,  the  more  he 
acknowledged  the  solid  supplementary  qualities  which 
Doris  would  bring  him  as  his  companion,  as  associate 
and  organizer  of  the  home. 

That  he  could  not  give  her  all  that  she  now  poured 
out  unreservedly  to  him,  gave  him  at  times  a  twinge 
of  pity  and  compassion.  She  was  so  keen  to  prog 
ress,  to  broaden  the  outlook  of  her  views,  to  be  of 
real  service  to  him.  There  were  moments  in  her  let 
ters  of  inner  revelations  that  stirred  him  almost  with 
the  guilty  feeling  of  surprising  what  was  not  his  to 


238  MAKING  MONEY 

see.  The  idea  of  an  early  marriage  would  have  been 
unbearable,  yet  as  a  possibility  of  the  future  it  seemed 
to  him  an  eminently  wise  and  just  procedure. 

At  the  Drake  mansion  his  ring  was  answered  by  a 
caretaker,  who  came  doubtfully  to  let  him  in,  paus 
ing  to  search  for  the  electric  buttons.  In  the  ante 
room  and  down  the  vistas  of  the  salons,  everything 
was  bare  and  draped  in  dust-clothes ;  there  was  a 
feeling  of  abandonment  and  loneliness  in  the  bared 
arches,  as  on  his  first  visit  a  year  before. 

"Bojo  —  is  it  you?" 

He  heard  her  voice  descending  somewhere  from  the 
upper  flights  of  the  great  stone  stairway,  and  an 
swered  cheerily.  The  caretaker  disappeared,  satis 
fied,  and  he  waited  at  the  foot  while  she  came  rushing 
down  and  flung  herself  in  his  arms. 

"  Why,  Doris ! "  he  exclaimed,  surprised  at  her 
emotion  and  the  tenseness  of  the  figure  that  clung  to 
him.  "  Doris,  why,  what's  wrong?  " 

"  Wait,  wait,"  she  said  breathlessly,  burying  her 
head  on  his  shoulder  and  tightening  the  grip  of  her 
arms. 

She  led  him,  still  clinging  to  his  side,  through  the 
ballroom  and  the  little  salon  into  the  great  library, 
where  he  had  gone  for  his  decisive  interview  with 
Drake.  They  stood  a  moment  in  filtered  obscurity, 
groping  for  the  buttons,  until  suddenly  the  room 
sprang  out  of  the  night.  Then  he  saw  that  she  had 
been  weeping.  Before  he  could  exclaim,  the  tears 
sprang  to  her  eyes  and  she  flung  herself  in  his  arms 
again,  sheltering  her  head  against  his  shoulder,  cling 
ing  to  his  protection  as  though  reeling  before  the  sud 
den  down  swoop  of  a  storm.  His  first  thought  was 


DORIS  MEETS  A  CRISIS  239 

of  death,  a  catastrophe  in  the  family  —  father, 
mother  —  Patsie !  At  this  thought  his  heart  seemed 
to  stop  and  he  said  brokenly: 

"  Doris,  what  is  it  —  nothing  has  happened  —  no 
one  is  —  is  in  danger  ?  " 

"  No,  no,"  she  said  in  a  whisper.  "  Oh,  don't  make 
me  speak  —  not  just  yet.  Keep  your  arms  about  me. 
Tighter  —  so  that  I  can  never,  never  get  away." 

He  obeyed,  wondering,  his  mind  alert,  seeking  a 
reason  for  this  strange  emotion.  Suddenly  she  raised 
her  head  and,  seizing  his  in  her  hands  with  such 
tenacity  that  he  felt  the  cut  of  her  sharp  little  fingers, 
kissed  him  with  the  poignant  agony  of  a  great  separa 
tion. 

"  Bojo,  remember  this,"  she  cried  through  her 
tears,  "  whatever  happens  —  whatever  comes  —  it  is 
you  —  you!  I  shall  love  only  you  all  my  life  —  no 
one  else !  " 

"  Whatever  happens  ?  "  he  said,  frowning,  but  be 
ginning  to  have  a  glimmer  of  the  truth.  "  What  do 
you  mean?  " 

She  moved  from  him,  standing,  with  head  slightly 
down,  staring  at  him  silently  for  a  long  moment. 
Then  she  said,  shaking  her  head  slowly : 

"  Oh,  how  you  will  hate  me !  " 

He  went  to  her  quickly  and,  taking  her  by  the  wrist, 
led  her  to  the  big  sofa. 

"  Now  sit  down.  Tell  me  just  what  this  all 
means ! " 

His  tone  was  harsh,  and  she  glanced  at  him,  fright 
ened. 

"  It  means,"  she  said  at  last,  "  that  I  am  not  what 
you  thought  —  what  I  thought  I  could  be.  I  am  not 


240  MAKING  MONEY 

strong.  I've  tried  and  I've  failed !  I  am  very,  very 
weak,  very  selfish,  I  can't  give  up  what  I'm  used 
to  —  luxury!  I  can't,  Bojo,  I  can't  —  it's  beyond 
me ! "  She  turned  away,  her  handkerchief  to  her 
eyes,  while  he  sat  without  a  word,  compelling  her  to 
go  on.  At  last  she  turned,  stealing  a  look  at  his  set 
face.  "Of  course  you'll  say  you  told  me  —  but  I 
tried  —  I  did  try !  " 

"  I  am  saying  nothing  at  all,"  he  said  quietly.  "  So 
you  wish  to  end  the  engagement,  that  is  all,  isn't 
it?" 

"  All! "  she  said  indignantly  with  a  flood  of  tears. 
"  Oh,  how  can  you  look  at  me  so  brutally  ?  I  am  mis 
erable,  absolutely  miserable.  I  am  throwing  away  my 
life,  my  whole  chance  of  loving,  of  being  happy,  and 
you  look  at  me  as  though  you  were  sending  me  to  the 
gallows ! " 

If  her  distress  was  intended  to  weaken  him  in  his 
attitude  of  quiet,  critical  contemplation,  it  failed. 
Nevertheless  he  modified  his  tone  somewhat. 

"  I  am  quite  in  the  dark.  I  understand  you  have 
come  to  break  off  the  engagement  —  that  is  not  per 
haps  the  shock  you  believe  it  —  but  I  am  still  curious 
to  know  what  are  your  reasons." 

Her  tears  stopped  abruptly.     She  faced  his  glance. 

"  I  said  you  would  hate  me,"  she  said  slowly. 

"  No,  I  do  not  think  so." 

"  Yes,  yes,  you  will  hate  me,"  she  said  breathlessly, 
"  and  you  should.  Oh,  I'm  not  excusing  myself.  I 
hate  myself.  I  despise  myself.  If  you  hated  me  you 
would  only  be  right.  Yes,  you  have  every  right." 

"Are  you  engaged  to  any  one  else,  Doris?"  he 
said  with  a  smile. 


DORIS  MEETS  A  CRISIS 

She  sprang  up  indignantly. 

"Oh,  how  could  you  say  such  a  thing!     Bojo!" 

"  If  I  have  offended  you  I  beg  your  pardon." 

"  You  beg  my  pardon,"  she  said,  her  lip  trembling. 
She  came  and  knelt  at  his  side.  "  Bojo,  look  at  me. 
You  believe  that  I  love  you,  don't  you  ?  —  that  you  are 
the  only  thing,  the  only  person  in  my  life  that  I  have 
ever  loved,  and  that  if  I  give  you  up  it  is  because 
I  must,  because  I  can't  help  it,  because  —  because  I 
know  myself  so  well  that  I  know  I  haven't  the  strength 
to  do  what  other  women  do  —  to  be  —  poor !  There 
you  have  it !  " 

"  But  you  knew  all  this  six  months  ago,"  he  said, 
scenting  some  mystery.  "  Something  else  must  have 
happened  —  what?  " 

She  nodded. 

"  Yes." 

He  waited  a  moment. 

"Well?" 

She  rose,  listened  a  moment  and  glanced  carefully 
about  the  room.  Afterward  he  remembered  this 
glance. 

"  You  must  give  me  your  word  of  honor  not  to 
mention  —  not  to  breathe  one  word  I  say  to  you," 
she  said  in  a  lower  voice. 

"  That  is  hardly  necessary,"  he  said  quickly,  on  his 
dignity. 

"  No,  no.  This  is  not  my  secret.  Your  word  of 
honor.  I  must  have  your  word  of  honor." 

"  Very  well,"  he  said,  carried  away  by  his  curi 
osity. 

"  Before  the  end  of  the  year,  in  a  few  months 
even,  Dad  may  lose  every  cent  he  has !  " 


MAKING  MONEY 

"  He  told  you  ?  "  he  said  incredulously.  "  Or  is 
this  some  trick  of  your  mother's?  " 

"  No,  no,  it  is  no  trick.     Dad  told  us  himself." 

"Us?     Whom?" 

"  Mother  and  me !  " 

"And  Patsie?" 

"  No,  Patsie  is  away." 

"When  did  he  tell  you?" 

"  Just  a  week  ago." 

"  But  why  ?  —  That  doesn't  seem  like  him  to  tell 
you,"  said  Bojo,  frowning.  "  Perhaps  —  you've  ex 
aggerated." 

"  No,  no.  He  is  in  a  bad  way.  He  is  caught," 
she  said  hurriedly.  "  Times  have  been  hard,  the 
market  has  gone  down  steadily  —  all  summer  — 'way, 
'way  down  —  and  Dad  is  carrying  enormous  blocks 
of  stock  —  must  carry  them  or  admit  defeat  —  and 
you  know  Dad !  I  don't  know  exactly  what's  wrong. 
He  didn't  go  into  the  matter;  but  he  has  enemies, 
tremendous  enemies  that  are  trying  to  put  him  out, 
and  it's  a  question  of  credit.  Oh,  if  you'd  seen  his 
face  when  he  told  us,  you'd  know  just  how  serious  it 
was!" 

"Just  what  did  he  say?" 

"  He  told  us  —  I  can't  remember  the  words  —  that 
if  times  continued  as  they  had  been,  he  stood  a 
chance  of  losing  every  cent  he  had,  that  he  was  in  a 
fight  for  existence  and  that  he  couldn't  tell  how  it 
would  come  out."  She  hesitated  a  moment  and 
added :  "  He  thought  the  situation  so  critical  that  we 
should  know  of  it." 

This  last  and  the  halting  before  saying  it,  sud- 


DORIS  MEETS  A  CRISIS  243 

denly  gave  him  the  light  he  had  been  seeking  during 
all  this  interview. 

"  In  other  words,  Doris,"  he  said  quickly, 
"  frankly  and  honestly,  since  we  are  going  to  be  hon 
est  now  that  we  have  come  to  the  parting  of  the  ways 
—  your  father  let  you  understand  so  that  you  might 
know  how  critical  the  situation  was  and  take  your 
measures  accordingly.  That's  it  —  isn't  it?" 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so." 

"  I  hope  at  least  that  you  haven't  concealed  any 
thing  from  Boskirk,"  he  said  quietly. 

"Why  should  I  tell  him?" — she  started  to  burst 
out,  and  caught  her  breath,  trapped. 

"  So  you  are  already  to  be  congratulated  ?  "  he 
said,  looking  at  her  with  a  smile. 

"  That  isn't  true,"  she  said  hastily.  "  You  know 
and  I  know  that  Mr.  Boskirk  wants  to  marry  me, 
that  I  can  have  him  any  day  — " 

"  Don't,"  he  said  gravely.  "  You  know  there  is  an 
understanding  — " 

"  Oh,  an  understanding  — "  she  began. 

"  True,"  he  interrupted.  "  At  this  moment,  Doris, 
you  know  that  Boskirk  has  proposed  and  you  have 
accepted  him.  Why  deny  it?  It  is  quite  plain. 
You  made  up  your  mind  that  you  would  marry  him 
the  moment  you  learned  you  might  be  a  pauper. 
Come,  be  honest  —  be  square." 

She  went  away  from  him  and  stood  by  the  fire 
place,  her  back  to  him. 

"  That  is  true  —  all  of  it,"  she  said.  A  shudder 
passed  over  her.  "  I  hate  him !  " 

"  What ! "    he   cried,    advancing    toward    her    in 


244  MAKING  MONEY 

amazement.  "  You  hate  him  and  yet  you  will  marry 
him?" 

:f  Yes.  Because  I  can't  bear  to  give  up  anything 
—  because  I  am  a  weak,  selfish  woman." 

In  a  flash  he  saw  her  as  she  would  be  —  this  woman 
who  now  stood  before  him  twisting  and  turning  in 
half-sincere  outbursts,  seeking  to  excuse  or  accuse 
herself  before  his  eyes  from  the  need  of  dramatic 
sensations. 

"  You  will  be,"  he  said  quietly.  "  So  you  are 
going  to  marry  Boskirk  ?  " 

She  nodded. 

"  Soon,  very  soon  ?  " 

She  winced  under  the  note  of  sarcasm  in  his  voice 
and  turned  breathlessly : 

"  Oh,  Bojo  —  you  despise  me !  " 

"  No  — "  he  said  indifferently.  He  held  out  his 
hand.  "  Well,  we  have  said  all  we  have  to  say, 
haven't  we?  " 

Before  he  could  prevent  her  or  divine  her  inten 
tions,  she  had  flung  herself  on  his  shoulder,  clinging 
to  him  despite  his  efforts  to  tear  her  from  him. 

"  Please,  no  scenes,"  he  said  hastily.  "  Quite  un 
necessary." 

She  wished  him  to  kiss  her  once  —  a  last  kiss ;  but 
he  refused.  Then  she  began  to  cry  hysterically,  vow 
ing  again  and  again,  between  her  torrents  of  self- 
accusation,  that  no  matter  what  the  future  brought 
she  would  never  love  any  one  else  but  him.  It  was 
not  until  she  grew  exhausted  from  the  very  storm  of 
her  emotion  that  he  was  able  to  loosen  her  arms  and 
force  her  from  him. 

"  Oh,  you  don't  love  me  —  you  don't  care !  "  she 


DORIS  MEETS  A  CRISIS  24*5 

cried,  when  at  last  she  felt  herself  alone  and  her  arms 
empty. 

"If  that  can  be  any  consolation  —  if  your  grief  is 
real  —  if  you  really  do  care  for  me,"  he  said,  "  that 
is  true.  I  do  not  love  you,  Doris,  and  I  never  have. 
That  is  why  I  do  not  hate  you  or  despise  you.  I  am 
sorry,  awfully  sorry.  You  could  have  been  such  an 
awfully  good  sort.'* 

At  this  she  caught  her  throat  and,  afraid  of  an 
other  paroxysm,  he  went  out  quickly. 

Before  the  curb  the  touring-car  was  waiting.  An 
idea  came  to  him,  remembering  the  glance  Doris  had 
sent  about  the  room. 

"  Going  back  to-night,  Carver  ?  "  he  said  to  the 
chauffeur.  "  Much  of  a  run  ?  " 

"  Two  hours  and  a  half,  sir." 

"  Mrs.  Drake  came  down  with  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  That's  the  answer,"  he  thought  to  himself,  won 
dering  how  much  she  might  have  overheard.  "  Poor 
Doris." 

He  thought  of  her  already  as  some  one  distantly 
removed,  amazed  to  realize  how  quickly  with  the 
snapping  of  the  artificial  bond  their  true  relationship 
had  readjusted  itself.  He  thought  of  her  only  with 
a  great  wonder,  recognizing  now  all  the  possibilities 
which  had  lain  in  her  for  good,  saddened,  and  shud 
dering  in  his  young  imagination  at  the  price  she  had 
elected  to  pay. 

He  turned  the  corner  with  a  last  look  at  the  tur- 
reted  and  gabled  roof  of  the  great  Drake  mansion, 
faint  unreal  shadows  against  the  starlit  sky,  as 
though,  in  his  newly  acquired  knowledge  of  the  tre- 


246  MAKING  MONEY 

mendous  catastrophe  impending,  it  lay  against  the 
crowded  silhouette  of  the  city  like  a  thing  of  dreams 
to  vanish  with  the  awakening  reality. 

Before  the  next  month  was  over,  Doris  had  mar 
ried  young  Boskirk  —  a  quiet  country  wedding  whose 
simplicity  excited  much  comment.  Before  another 
fortnight  the  market,  which  had  been  slowly  reced 
ing  before  the  rising  wrath  of  a  great  financial  panic, 
broke  violently. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

THE  LETTER  TO   PATSIE 

TWO  days  after  the  breaking  of  his  engagement  to 
Doris,  Bojo  wrote  to  Patsie.  This  letter  —  the 
first  he  had  written  her  —  he  was  two  days  in  compos 
ing,  tearing  up  several  drafts.  He  was  afraid  to  say 
too  much,  and  to  discuss  trivial  matters  seemed  to 
him  insincere.  Finally  he  sent  this  letter : 

Dear  Drina : 

I  suppose  by  now  Doris  has  told  you  of  what  has  happened. 
There  are  a  great  many  things  I  want  you  to  know  about 
these  trying  months,  that  I've  wanted  you  to  know  and  have 
been  hurt  that  you  didn't  know.  Now  that  it's  over  I  realize 
what  a  tragedy  it  would  have  been,  and  yet  I  would  have  gone 
on  believing  it  was  the  right  thing  to  do,  trying  to  make  myself 
believe  in  what  I  was  doing.  During  all  this  time  I  have  never 
forgotten  certain  things  you  said  to  me,  your  message  the  day 
of  the  panic,  the  look  in  your  eyes  that  afternoon  before  I  went 
in  to  see  your  father  and  —  other  memories.  I  want  to  see  you. 
Where  are  you?  When  will  you  be  back  in  New  York? 

Faithfully  yours, 

Bojo. 

Having  written  this  he  carried  it  around  in  his 
pocket  for  another  day  before  posting  it.  No  sooner 
was  it  irrevocably  beyond  his  hands  than  he  had  the 
feeling  that  he  had  committed  an  irretrievable  blun 
der.  The  next  moment  it  seemed  to  him  that  he 
had  done  the  direct  and  courageous  thing,  that  she 
would  understand  and  be  grateful  to  him  for  his 

247 


248  MAKING  MONEY 

frankness.  Each  morning  he  heard  the  rustle  of  the 
mail  slipping  under  the  door  with  a  sudden  cold  fore 
boding,  certain  that  her  letter  had  come.  Each  even 
ing,  back  from  the  grind  of  the  factory,  he  came  into 
the  monastic  corridors  of  West  over  Court  and  turned 
the  corner  of  the  desk  with  a  hot-and-cold  hope  that 
in  the  letter-box  there,  under  the  number  51,  would 
be  a  letter  waiting  for  him.  When  after  a  week  no 
word  had  come,  he  began  to  make  excuses.  She  was 
away  on  a  visit,  her  mail  had  to  be  forwarded  or  more 
probably  held  for  her  return.  But  one  day,  happen 
ing  to  glance  at  the  social  column,  in  a  report  of  the 
Berkshires  he  found  her  name  as  a  contender  in  a 
tennis  tournament.  He  wrote  a  second  note : 

Dear  Patsie : 

Did  you  get  my  letter  of  ten  days  ago,  and  won't  you  write 
me? 

Yours, 

Bojo. 

Perhaps  his  first  had  miscarried.  Such  accidents 
were  rare  but  yet  they  did  occur.  He  calculated  the 
shortest  time  she  could  receive  his  letter  and  answer 
it  and  waited  expectantly  all  that  day.  Again  a  week 
passed  and  no  word  from  her.  What  had  happened  ? 
Had  he  really  blundered  in  sending  the  first  letter? 
Was  her  pride  hurt,  or  what?  A  feeling  of  despair 
began  to  settle  over  him.  He  did  not  attempt  a 
third  letter,  sick  at  heart.  The  thought  that  he  might 
have  wounded  her  —  he  always  imagined  her  as  a 
child  —  was  unbearable.  It  hurt  him  as  it  had  hurt 
him  with  a  haunting  sadness,  the  day  after  their  wild 
toboggan  ride,  when  he  had  seen  the  pain  in  her  eyes 
—  eyes  that  were  yet  too  young  for  the  knowledge  of 


THE  LETTER  TO  PATSIE 

the  sorrow  and  ugliness  of  the  world.  Finally, 
through  a  chance  remark  one  day  when  he  had 
dropped  in  to  his  club,  he  learned  that  she  was  to  be 
present  at  a  house  party  at  Skeeter  Stoughton's  on 
Long  Island.  Overlooking  the  incident  of  his  un 
successful  attempt  to  enter  their  employ,  he  took  his 
friend  into  a  half  confidence  and  begged  him  to  secure 
him  an  invitation  for  over  Sunday. 

When  he  was  once  on  the  train  and  he  knew  for 
certain  that  in  a  short  two  hours  he  would  look  into 
her  eyes  again,  a  feeling  almost  of  panic  seized  him. 
When  they  were  in  the  motor  rushing  over  smooth 
white  roads  and  he  felt  the  lost  distances  melting 
away  beneath  him,  this  feeling  became  one  of  the 
acutest  misery.  All  that  he  had  carefully  planned 
and  rehearsed  to  say  to  her,  suddenly  deserted  his 

mind-  ^re  of 

"  What  shall  I  say  ?     What  shall  I  do  ?  '/ 

himself,  cold  with  horror.  There  seet~he  ^.^  qujetiy. 
ing  he  could  say  or  do.  His  ver^  simulation  of  igl 
impertinence,  which  she  must  re?. 

Luckily  no  one  was  in  the  hoi2rested>  weren>t  you?  » 
and  he  had  a  short  moment  to  Know>  Gladys  »  he  said, 
before  they  strolled  down  t.    A  certain  look  she  saw 
tennis  courts.     He  was  knowt  sudden  retreat  into  ba_ 
who  greeted  his  appearance  a 
gal.     Patsie  was  on  the  cou 
they  came  up,  Gladys  Stone 

the  net.  Some  one  called;rs  impatient  of  the  r61e 
Crocker!  and  she  turned  tables  of  auction  inside 
startled  movement,  then  hasti  him  that  the  best  thing 
the  cry  of  her  partner,  drove  t  join  them  and  show  a 
the  loss  of  the  point.  onging,  miserable  and 


250  MAKING  MONEY 

When  next,  ensconced  under  a  red-and-white  awn 
ing  among  the  array  of  cool  flannels  and  summery 
dresses,  he  sought  her,  she  was  seriously  intent  on 
her  game,  a  little  frown  on  her  young  forehead,  her 
lips  rebelliously  set,  the  swirling  white  silk  collar 
open  at  the  browned  throat,  the  sleeve  rolled  up  above 
the  firm  slender  forearm.  She  moved  lightly  as  a 
young  animal  in  slow,  well  calculated  tripping  move 
ments  or  in  rapid  shifting  springs.  Her  partner,  a 
younger  brother  of  Skeeter's,  home  on  vacation,  gath 
ered  in  the  balls  and  offered  them  to  her  with  a  solici 
tude  that  was  quite  evident  Bojo  felt  an  instinctive 
antipathy,  watching  their  laughing  intimacy.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  they  excluded  him,  that  she  was 
still  a  child  unable  to  distinguish  between  a  stripling 
and  a  man,  still  without  need  of  any  deeper  emotions 
mep*  a  light-hearted  romping  comradeship. 

•^e  ending  of  the  set,  greetings  could  no 
Med.     As  she  came  to  him  directly, 

Perhaps  his  firl"1  in  **  most  ™iu™1  wa?'  he  felt 
were  rare  but  yet  tSomS  red  to  the  ears'  that  every 
shortest  time  she  Cou.embarrassment  before  this  ?irl 
it  and  waited  expectant  said  stupidly,  pretending 

passed  and  no  word  frc 

Had  he  really  blunder*1"8  1S  a  surprise! ' 

Was  her  pride  hurt,  or  ^ld  Wlth  seeming  uncon- 

began  to  settle  over  '. 

third  letter,  sick  at  hear6**  moment  she  was  in  some 

have  wounded  her  —  Fther  match-     Short  and  ar- 

child  — was  unbearable  had  been'  k  left  him  Wlth 

him  with  a  haunting  y  ^d  hurt  her  irrevocably,  she 

toboggan  ride,  when  » '  ***  was  evident-     Hls  whole 

—  eyes  that  were  yet  ^dful  mistake.     Depressed,  he 


THE  LETTER  TO  PATSIE  251 

turned  to  Gladys  Stone  to  attempt  the  concealment 
from  strange  eyes  of  the  disorder  within  himself. 
He  was  yet  too  inexperienced  in  the  ways  of  the 
women  of  the  world  to  even  suspect  the  depth  of  re 
sentment  that  could  lie  in  her  tortured  heart. 

"  I'm  awfully  glad  to  see  you  —  awfully,"  he  said, 
committing  the  blunder  of  giving  to  his  voice  a  note 
of  discreet  sympathy.  It  had  been  his  distressing 
duty  to  bring  her  personally  the  little  baggage  of  her 
sentimental  voyage  —  letters,  a  token  or  two,  several 
photographs  —  to  witness  with  clouding  eyes  the 
spectacle  of  her  complete  breakdown. 

She  drew  a  little  away  at  his  words,  straightening 
up  and  looking  from  him. 

"  Have  you  heard  the  date  of  the  wedding, 
Doris's  wedding  ?  "  she  said  coldly. 

It  was  his  time  to  wince,  but  he  was  incapable  of 
returning  the  feminine  attack. 

"  You  should  know  better  than  I,"  he  said  quietly. 

She  looked  at  him  with  a  perfect  simulation  of  ig 
norance  : 

"  You  were  rather  well  interested,  weren't  you  ?  " 

"  More  than  that,  as  you  know,  Gladys,"  he  said, 
looking  directly  in  her  eyes.  A  certain  look  she  saw 
there  caused  her  to  make  a  sudden  retreat  into  ba 
nality  — 

"Do  you  play?" 

"  Sometimes." 

Miss  Stoughton  and  others  impatient  of  the  role 
of  spectators  were  organizing  tables  of  auction  inside 
the  house.  His  reason  told  him  that  the  best  thing 
for  him  to  do  would  be  to  join  them  and  show  a 
certain  indifference,  but  the  longing,  miserable  and 


252  MAKING  MONEY 

unreasoning,  within  him  to  stay,  to  be  where  he  could 
see  her,  filling  his  eyes,  after  all  the  long  vacant  sum 
mer,  was  too  strong.  He  hesitated  and  remained, 
saying  to  himself  — 

"  Suppose  I  am  a  fool.  She'll  think  I  haven't  the 
nerve  of  a  mouse." 

He  wanted  to  chatter,  to  laugh  at  the  slightest  pre 
text,  to  maintain  an  attitude  of  light  inconsequential 
amusement,  but  the  attempt  failed.  He  remained 
moody  and  taciturn,  his  eyes  irresistibly  fastened  on 
the  young  figure,  so  free  and  untamed,  reveling  in 
the  excitement  and  hazards  of  the  game,  wondering 
to  himself  that  this  girl,  who  now  seemed  so  calmly 
steeled  against  the  display  of  the  slightest  interest  in 
him,  had  once  swayed  against  his  shoulder,  yielding 
to  the  enveloping  sense  of  a  moonlight  night,  loneli 
ness  and  the  invisible,  inexplicable  impulse  toward 
each  other.  What  had  come  to  end  all  this  and  how 
was  it  possible  for  her  to  dissemble  the  emotion  that 
she  must  feel,  with  the  knowledge  of  his  eyes  steadily 
and  moodily  fixed  upon  her? 

He  was  resolved  to  find  a  moment's  isolation  in 
which  to  speak  to  her  directly  and  she  just  as  deter 
mined  to  prevent  it.  As  a  consequence  he  felt  him 
self  circumvented  at  every  move,  without  being  able 
to  say  to  himself  that  it  had  been  done  deliberately. 
The  others  who  perhaps  perceived  his  intention  sought 
an  instinctive  distance,  with  that  innate  sympathy 
which  goes  out  to  lovers,  but  Patsie  with  a  foreseeing 
eye  called  young  Stoughton  to  her  side  and  pretend 
ing  a  slightly  wrenched  ankle,  leaned  heavily  on  his 
arm.  In  which  fashion  they  regained  the  house  with- 


THE  LETTER  TO  PATSIE  253 

out  Bojo  having  been  able  by  Hook  or  crook  to  have 
gained  a  moment  for  a  private  word. 

At  dinner,  where  he  had  hoped  that  Skeeter  Stough- 
ton,  in  return  for  his  half  confidence,  would  have  ar 
ranged  so  that  he  should  sit  next  to  her,  he  found 
Patsie  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  table.  An  accusa 
tory  glance  towards  Skeeter  was  answered  by  one  of 
mystification.  Then  he  understood  that  she  must 
have  rearranged  the  cards  herself.  He  was  un 
skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  the  ways  of  young  girls 
and  their  instinctive  cruelty  to  those  who  love  them 
and  even  those  whom  they  themselves  love.  He  was 
hurt,  embarrassed,  prey  to  idiotic  suppositions  that 
left  him  miserable  and  self-conscious.  He  was  even 
ready  to  believe  that  she  had  taken  the  others  into 
her  confidence,  that  every  one  must  be  watching, 
smiling  behind  their  correct  masks.  The  dinner 
seemed  interminable.  He  was  too  wretched  to  con 
ceal  his  emotions,  neglecting  his  neighbors  shame 
fully  until  one,  a  debutante  of  the  year,  rallied  him 
maliciously. 

"  Mr.  Crocker,  I  believe  you're  in  love !  " 

He  glanced  at  Patsie,  frightened  lest  the  remark 
might  have  carried,  but  from  her  attitude  he  could 
divine  nothing.  She  was  rattling  away,  answering 
some  lightly  flung  remark  from  down  the  table.  He 
began  to  talk  desperately  in  idiotic,  meaningless  sen 
tences,  aware  that  his  neighbor  was  watching  him 
with  a  mischievous  smile. 

"  Are  you  really  in  love  ? "  she  said  delightedly 
when  he  had  run  out  of  ideas. 

He  was  struck  by  a  sudden  inspiration. 


254  MAKING  MONEY 

"  If  I  confess  will  you  help  me?  "  he  said  in  a  whis 
per.  Miss  Hunter,  enraptured  with  the  idea  of  any 
thing  that  bordered  on  the  romantic,  bobbed  her  head 
in  enthusiastic  response. 

"  Very  well,  after  dinner,"  he  said  in  the  same  low 
tone.  He  had  a  feeling  that  Patsie  had  been  trying 
to  listen  and  began  to  talk  with  a  gaiety  for  which  he 
found  no  reason  in  himself.  Several  times  he 
glanced  across  the  table  and  he  felt  —  though  their 
eyes  never  met  —  that  her  glance  had  but  just  left 
him,  was  on  him  the  moment  he  turned  away.  He 
found  her  much  changed.  She  was  not  yet  a  woman, 
by  a  certain  veil  of  fragility  and  inconscient  shyness, 
but  the  child  was  gone.  Her  glance  was  more  so 
bered  and  more  thoughtful  as  though  the  touch  of 
some  sadness  had  stolen  the  bubbling  spirits  of  child 
hood  and  left  a  comprehension  of  deeper  trials  ap 
proaching.  At  times  she  assumed  an  attitude  of 
great  dignity,  la  grande  maniere,  which  was  yet  but 
assumed  and  made  him  smile. 

Dinner  over,  dancing  began.  He  made  no  attempt 
to  seek  out  Patsie,  putting  off  Miss  Hunter  too  with 
evasive  answers.  He  danced  once  or  twice,  but  with 
out  enjoyment  and  finally,  not  to  witness  the  spec 
tacle  of  her  dancing  with  other  men,  made  the  pre 
text  of  an  evening  cigar  to  seek  the  obliterating  dark 
ness  of  the  verandah.  Safely  hidden  in  a  favoring 
corner,  he  sat,  moodily  watching  the  occasional  flit 
ting  of  laughing  couples  silhouetted  against  the  starry 
night.  He  was  totally  at  loss  to  account  for  the  re 
ception.  At  times  a  suspicion  passed  through  his 
mind  that  Doris  might  have  given  a  different  account 
of  their  parting  scene  than  the  facts  warranted.  At 


THE  LETTER  TO  PATSIE  255 

others,  remembering  details  of  romantic  novels,  he 
had  devoured,  he  was  willing  to  believe  that  his  letter 
had  not  reached  her,  had  been  intercepted  perhaps  by 
Mrs.  Drake.  At  the  end  of  an  hour,  fearing  to  have 
made  his  absence  too  noticeable,  he  rose  unwillingly 
to  join  the  gay  party  within.  Suddenly  as  he  rounded 
the  corner  he  came  upon  a  couple  separating,  the  man 
returning  to  the  dance,  the  girl  leaning  against  a  pil 
lar,  plucking  at  invisible  vines.  Then  she  too  turned, 
coming  into  a  momentary  reflection.  It  was  Patsie. 

She  stopped  short,  divining  who  it  was,  and  the 
instinctive  step  backward  which  she  made  brought  an 
angry  outburst  to  his  lips. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  said  stiffly.  "  I  didn't 
mean  to  annoy  you.  I  had  been  finishing  my  smoke. 
I  — "  He  paused,  at  his  wits'  end.  At  this  moment 
if  he  had  been  called  upon  to  recognize  his  true  feel 
ings,  he  would  have  sworn  that  he  hated  her  bitterly 
with  a  fierce,  unreasoning  hatred. 

"  You  do  not  annoy  me,"  she  said  quietly. 

"  I  was  afraid  so." 

"  No." 

He  hesitated  a  moment, 

"  Did  you  get  my  letters  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Did  you  answer  them  ?  "  he  said,  with  a  last  hope 
of  some  possible  misunderstanding. 

She  shook  her  head. 

He  waited  a  moment  for  some  explanation  and  as 
none  came,  he  started  to  leave,  saying, 

"  I  don't  understand  at  all  —  but  —  I  don't  sup 
pose  that  matters  — " 

He  went  toward  the  door.     Then  stopped.     He 


MAKING  MONEY 

thought  he  had  heard  her  calling  his  name.  He  re 
turned  slowly. 

"Did  you  call  me?" 

"  No,  no." 

All  at  once  he  came  to  her  tempestuously,  catching 
her  arm  as  he  would  a  naughty  child's. 

"  Drina,  I  won't  be  turned  away  like  this.  In 
heaven's  name  what  have  I  done  that  you  should 
treat  me  like  this?  At  least  tell  me!  " 

She  did  not  struggle  against  his  hold,  but  turned 
away  her  head  without  answer. 

"  Was  it  my  first  letter  ?  You  didn't  like  me  to 
write  that  way  —  so  soon  —  so  soon  after  breaking 
the  engagement?  Was  that  it?  It  was,  wasn't 
it?" 

It  seemed  to  him,  though  he  could  not  be  sure,  that 
her  head  made  a  little  affirmative  nod. 

"But  what  was  wrong?"  he  cried  in  dismay. 
"  You  wouldn't  have  me  be  insincere.  You  know 
and  I  know  what  you  meant  to  me,  you  know  that  if 
I  went  on  with  Doris  after  —  after  that  night,  it  was 
only  from  a  sense  of  duty,  of  loyalty.  Yes,  because 
you  yourself  came  to  me  and  begged  me  to.  If  that's 
true,  why  not  be  open  about  — " 

"  Hush,"  she  said  hastily.     "  Some  one  will  hear." 

"  I  don't  care  if  they  all  hear,"  he  said  recklessly. 
"  Drina,  what's  the  use  of  pretending.  You  know 
I've  been  in  love  with  you,  you  and  only  you,  from 
the  first  day  I  saw  you." 

She  drew  her  arm  from  his  grasp  and  turned  on 
him  defiantly  — 

"  Thanks  —  I  don't  care  to  be  second  fiddle !  "  she 
said  spitefully. 


THE  LETTER  TO  PATSIE  257 

*'  Good  heavens,  that  is  it !  " 

"  Yes,  that  is  it,"  she  cried  out  and  breaking  from 
him  she  fled  around  the  corner  of  the  verandah  and 
it  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  caught  the  sound  of  a 
sob. 

He  entered  the  house,  a  prey  to  conflicting  emo 
tions,  perplexed,  angry,  inclined  to  laugh,  with  alter 
nate  flashes  of  hope  and  as  sudden  relapses  into  de 
spair.  Just  as  he  had  made  up  his  mind  that  she  had 
left  for  the  night,  she  reappeared  without  a  trace  of 
concern.  But  try  as  he  might  he  did  not  succeed  in 
getting  another  opportunity  to  speak  to  her.  She 
avoided  him  with  a  settled  cold  antagonism.  The 
next  day  it  was  the  same.  It  seemed  that  everything 
she  did  was  calculated  to  wound  him  and  display  her 
hostility.  He  had  neither  the  strength  nor  the  wis 
dom  to  respond  with  indifference,  suffering  openly. 
At  ten  o'clock  that  night  as  he  was  miserably  prepar 
ing  to  enter  the  automobile  that  was  to  take  him  to 
the  station,  Patsie  came  hurriedly  down  the  steps, 
something  white  in  her  hand. 

"  Please  do  something  for  me,"  she  said  breath 
lessly. 

"What  is  it?" 

"  A  letter  —  I  want  you  to  mail  this  letter  —  it's 
important." 

He  turned,  taking  the  letter  and  putting  it  in  his 
pocket  without  noticing  it. 

She  held  out  her  hand.  Surprised,  he  took  it,  yet 
without  relenting. 

"  Good-by,  Bo  jo,"  she  said  softly. 

The  next  moment  he  was  whirled  away.  When  he 
reached  the  Court  he  remembered  for  the  first  time 


258  MAKING  MONEY 

his  commission  and,  stopping  at  the  desk,  he  handed 
the  letter  absent-mindedly  to  Delia,  saying, 

"  If  you're  going  out,  Delia,  mail  this." 

She  burst  out  laughing,  with  her  irresistible  Irish 
smile. 

"  What  are  you  laughing  at?  "  he  said,  surprised. 

"  You're  always  up  to  tricks,  Mr.  Crocker,"  she 
said,  looking  at  the  inscription. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  he  asked,  puzzled,  and, 
perceiving  the  cause  of  her  merriment,  he  snatched 
the  envelope  and  glanced  at  it.  It  was  addressed  to 
him.  Covered  with  confusion  he  fled  up  to  his 
room  in  a  fever  of  anticipation  and  wild  hope. 

Dear  Bojo: 

Forgive  me  for  being  a  horrid,  spiteful  little  cat.  I  am  sorry 
but  you  are  very  stupid  —  very!  Please  forgive  me. 

PATSIE. 

P.S.  As  soon  as  the  wedding  is  over,  we  come  to  New  York. 
Will  you  come  and  see  me  there  —  and  I'll  promise  to  behave. 

DRINA. 

He  went  to  bed  in  the  seventh  heaven  of  delight, 
repeating  to  himself  a  hundred  times  every  word  of 
this  letter,  turning  each  phrase  over  and  over  for 
favorable  interpretation.  It  seemed  to  him  that  never 
had  he  spent  such  deliciously  happy  days  as  the  last 
two. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

PATSIE  APPEALS  FOR  HELP 

MEANWHILE  Fred  and  Louise  returned.  He 
went  to  see  them  at  a  fashionable  hotel  where 
they  were  staying  temporarily.  The  great  rooms  and 
the  large  salon  on  the  corner,  overlooking  the  ser 
ried  flight  of  houses  and  factories  toward  the  river 
must  have  cost  at  least  fifteen  dollars  a  day.  Louise 
went  into  the  bedroom  presently  to  her  hairdresser, 
closing  the  door. 

"  Congratulations,  Prince,"  said  Bojo  laughing,  but 
with  a  certain  intention  to  approach  serious  matters. 
"  The  royal  suite  is  charming." 

"  Remember  I'm  a  married  man,"  said  DeLancy, 
the  incorrigible,  with  a  laugh.  "  Aren't  you  ashamed 
to  try  and  lecture  me?  " 

"  Have  you  discovered  a  gold  mine?  "  said  Bojo. 

"  Oh !  I  got  in  on  two  or  three  good  things  last 
Summer,"  said  Fred,  who  broke  off  in  some  confu 
sion  at  perceiving  that  he  had  just  divulged  to  his 
friend  that  he  had  been  trying  his  fortune  again  in 
Wall  Street. 

"So  that's  it,"  said  Bojo  grimly.  "Thought 
you'd  sworn  off." 

"  I  never  did,"  said  DeLancy  obstinately. 

"  It's  not  my  affair,  Fred,"  said  Bojo  finally. 
"Only  do  go  slow,  old  fellow;  we're  neither  of  us 

259 


260  MAKING  MONEY 

great  manipulators  and  what  comes  slowly,  goes  with 
a  rush." 

"  Honest,  Bojo,  I  am  careful,"  said  Fred  with  a 
show  of  conviction.  "  No  more  ten  per  cent,  margins 
and  no  more  wild-cat  chances.  If  I  buy,  it's  on  good 
information,  no  plunging." 

"  Are  you  sure?" 

"  Oh,  absolutely !  I  take  me  solemn  oath !  "  said 
Fred  with  a  face  to  convince  a  meeting  of  theologians. 

"  And  no  margins  ?  " 

"  Oh,  conservative  margins !  " 

"  What  do  you  call  conservative  ?  " 

"  Twenty-five  points  —  twenty  points  naturally." 

Bojo  shook  his  head. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do,  live  here?  " 

"  Of  course  not.  We  are  looking  around  for  an 
apartment  for  the  Winter." 

Bojo  wanted  to  know  what  Louise  intended, 
whether  she  had  made  up  her  mind  to  leave  the  stage 
or  not,  but  he  did  not  know  quite  how  to  approach  the 
subject.  As  he  studied  DeLancy,  he  thought  he 
looked  irrepressibly  happy  and  indifferent  to  what 
lay  ahead.  He  wondered  if  Fred  had  made  any  ap 
proaches  to  his  old  friends  with  a  view  to  their  ac 
cepting  his  wife. 

"  Will  Louise  stay  here  too  ?  "  he  asked  finally. 

"  Naturally." 

"  Is  —  is  she  giving  up  her  career?  "  he  said  hesi 
tatingly. 

DeLancy  looked  rather  embarrassed.  He  did  not 
reply  at  first. 

"  I  have  left  that  to  Louise  herself.  It's  her  de 
cision.  For  the  present  nothing  is  settled,  not  as  yet." 


PATSIE  APPEALS  FOR  HELP          261 

Bojo  felt  the  embarrassment  that  possessed  him. 
He  had  come  to  ask  a  score  of  questions.  He  started 
to  leave  with  the  feeling  that  he  had  found  out  noth 
ing.  At  the  noise  of  his  going,  Louise  came  out  of 
the  room  with  her  hair  down.  Probably  she  had  been 
listening.  She  said  good-by  to  him  with  extra  cor 
diality,  with  an  ironical  look  in  her  eyes. 

"  Mind  you  look  us  up  after." 

"  Yes,  yes." 

Fred  accompanied  him  to  the  elevator. 

"  As  soon  as  we  are  settled  we'll  have  a  spree,"  he 
said  with  an  attempt  at  the  old  gaiety. 

"  Of  course." 

Bojo  went  off  shrugging  his  shoulders,  saying  to 
himself,  "  Where  will  it  all  end?  " 

During  the  Summer  a  marked  change  had  come 
over  industrial  conditions,  a  feeling  of  something 
ominous  was  in  the  air,  a  vague  and  undefined  threat 
impending.  At  the  factory  a  fifth  of  the  machines 
were  idle  and  Garnett  was  moodily  contemplating  a 
general  reduction  in  salaries.  Bojo  scarcely  paid  any 
attention  to  Wall  Street  matters  now,  but  he  knew 
that  the  movement  downward  of  values  had  been  slow 
and  gradual  and  that  prophecies  of  dark  days  were 
current.  Matters  with  Marsh  were  going  badly. 
Advertisers  were  deserting  the  paper,  there  had  been 
several  minor  strikes  with  costly  readjustments. 
Roscoe  seemed  to  have  lost  his  early  enthusiasm,  to  be 
increasingly  moody,  impatient  and  quick  to  take  of 
fense.  The  reasons  given  for  the  business  depression 
were  many,  over  capitalization,  timidity  of  the  small 
investors  due  to  the  exposure  of  great  corporations, 
distrust  of  radical  political  reforms.  Whatever  the 


262  MAKING  MONEY 

causes,  the  receding  tide  had  come.  People  were  ap 
prehensive,  dispirited,  talking  poverty.  Granning 
held  that  the  country  was  paying  for  the  sins  of  the 
great  financial  adventurers  and  the  cost  of  the  giddy 
structures  they  had  thrown  up.  Marsh  from  the 
knowledge  of  his  newspaper  world,  held  that  below 
all  was  the  coalescing  power  of  great  banking  systems, 
arrayed  against  the  government  on  one  side  and  on 
the  other,  waiting  their  opportunity  to  crush  the  new- 
risen  financial  idea  of  the  Trust  Company  organized 
to  deal  in  speculative  ventures  denied  to  them.  When 
Bo  jo  in  his  simplicity  asked  why  in  a  great  growing 
nation  of  boundless  resources,  a  panic  should  ever 
be  necessary,  each  sought  to  explain  with  confusing 
logic  which  did  not  convince  at  all.  Only  from  it  he 
gathered  that  above  the  great  productive  mechanism 
of  the  nation  was  an  artificial  structure,  in  the  pos 
session  of  powerful  groups  able  to  control  the  sources 
of  credit  on  which  the  sources  of  production  depend. 

Four  days  after  he  had  read  in  the  newspapers  the 
account  of  Doris's  wedding  to  Boskirk,  about  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  while  he  was  waiting  for  Ros- 
coe  to  call  for  him  to  go  out  to  dinner,  Sweeney,  the 
Jap,  brought  him  a  card. 

It  was  from  Patsie,  hastily  scribbled  across,  "  I  am 
outside.  Can  you  come  and  see  me  ?  " 

"  Where  is  she  ?  Outside  ? "  he  said  all  in  a 
flutter.  Sweeney  informed  him  that  she  was  wait 
ing  in  an  automobile. 

He  guessed  that  something  serious  must  have  hap 
pened  and  hurried  down.  Patsie's  face  was  at  the 
window,  watching  impatiently.  When  she  saw  him 
she  relaxed  momentarily  with  a  sigh  of  relief. 


263 

"Why,  Patsie,  what's  wrong?"  he  said  instantly, 
taking  her  hand. 

"  You  can  come?     It's  important." 

"  Of  course." 

He  jumped  in  and  the  car  made  off. 

"  Tell  him  to  drive  through  the  Park." 

He  transmitted  the  order.  And  then  turned  to 
look  at  her. 

"  I  am  so  worried !  "  she  said  at  once,1  gazing  into 
his  eyes,  with  eyes  that  held  an  indefinable  fear. 

He  had  not  relinquished  her  hand  since  he  had 
seated  himself.  He  pressed  it  strongly,  fighting  back 
the  desire  to  take  her  in  his  arms,  that  came  to  him 
with  the  spectacle  of  her  misery.  There  flashed 
through  his  mind  the  details  of  his  final  parting  with 
Doris  and  her  ominous  declaration  of  the  ruin  im 
pending  over  her  father.  He  had  only  half  believed 
it  then  but  now  it  flashed  across  his  memory  with  in 
stant  conviction. 

"  Your  father  is  in  trouble  —  financial  trouble !  " 
he  said  suddenly. 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  "  she  said  amazed. 

"  Doris  told  me." 

"  Doris?  When?  "  she  said.  She  stiffened  at  the 
name,  though  he  did  not  notice  the  action. 

"  The  last  time  I  saw  her  —  why,  Drina,  didn't  you 
know?  Why  she  came  down,  why  she  saw  me  and 
asked  to  be  released  —  didn't  you  know  her  reason  ?  " 

"  I  know  nothing.  Do  you  mean  to  say  that 
she — "  she  paused  as  though  overwhelmed  at  the 
thought,  "  that  then  she  knew  Dad  was  facing  ruin  ?  " 

"  Knew  ?  Why,  your  father  told  her !  —  Doris  and 
your  mother !  You  didn't  know  ?  " 


264  MAKING  MONEY 

"  No." 

"  You  weren't  told  afterward?  " 

"  No,  no  —  not  a  word." 

Rapidly  he  recounted  the  details  of  the  scene,  fail 
ing  in  his  excitement  to  notice  how  divided  was  her 
interest,  between  the  knowledge  of  what  was  threat 
ening  her  father,  and  what  bore  upon  the  situation 
between  Doris  and  himself. 

"  Then  it  was  Doris  who  broke  it !  "  she  said  sud 
denly  and  a  shudder  went  through  her  body. 

He  checked  himself,  saw  clear  and  answered  im 
petuously. 

"Yes,  she  did  —  that's  true.  But  let  me  tell  the 
truth  also.  I  never  would  have  married  her  —  never 
—  never!  I  never  in  all  my  life  felt  such  relief  — 
yes,  such  absolute  happiness  as  that  night  when  I 
walked  away  free.  I  did  not  love  her.  I  had  not  for 
a  long,  long  time.  I  pitied  her.  I  believed  that 
through  her  love  for  me  a  great  change  was  coming 
in  her  —  for  the  best.  And  so  it  had.  I  pitied  her. 
I  was  afraid  of  doing  harm.  That  was  all.  She 
knew  it,  Drina.  You  can't  believe  I  cared  —  you 
must  have  known !  " 

"  And  yet  —  yet,"  she  began,  hesitatingly,  and. 
stopped. 

"  Don't  hold  anything  back,"  he  said  impulsively. 
"  We  mustn't  let  anything  stand  between  us.  Say 
anything  you  want.  Better  that." 

"  What  I  couldn't  understand,"  she  said  at  last,. 
with  an  effort,  in  which  her  hurt  pride  was  evident  — 
"  that  afternoon  —  when  you  gave  back  the  money  to 
Dad  —  after  what  you  said  to  me  —  Oh !  how  can  I 
say  it." 


PATSIE  APPEALS  FOR  HELP          £65 

"  You  thought  that  I  was  going  to  tell  the  truth 
to  Doris  and  break  the  engagement.  That  was  it, 
wasn't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  covering  her  face,  in  terror  that 
she  could  have  said  such  a  thing,  and  yet  her  whole 
being  hanging  on  his  answer — "I  couldn't  under 
stand  —  afterwards." 

"  I  came  out  of  the  library  to  make  an  end  of 
everything  and  before  I  knew  it,  it  was  Doris  who 
had  changed  everything.  She  had  listened.  She 
had  heard  all.  She  imagined  she  was  in  love  for 
the  first  time.  She  begged  me  not  to  turn  from  her, 
to  give  her  another  chance.  I  was  caught,  what  was 
I  to  do?" 

"  She  loves  you,"  she  said  breathlessly. 

"  She  only  imagines  it.  She  only  plays  with  that 
idea." 

"  No,  no !  she  loves  you,"  she  said  in  a  tone  of 
great  suffering. 

"  But,  Drina,"  he  said,  aghast  at  her  inconsistency, 
"  it  was  you  who  came  to  me  —  who  begged  me  to 
marry  Doris  —  how  can  you  forget  that  ?  " 

She  burst  into  tears. 

"  What !  You  are  jealous !  —  jealous  of  her !  "  he 
cried  with  a  great  hope  in  his  voice,  his  hand  going 
out  to  her. 

She  stiffened  suddenly  and  drew  back,  frightened 
into  her  corner. 

"  No,  I'm  not  jealous,"  she  said  furiously.  "  Only 
hurt  —  terribly  hurt." 

This  sudden  change  left  him  bewildered.  He  felt 
it  unjustified,  inconsistent  and  a  reproach  was  on  his 
lips. 


266  MAKING  MONEY 

In  the  end  he  quieted  himself  and  said,  forcing 
himself  to  speak  like  a  stranger: 

"  This,  I  suppose,  is  not  what  you  wanted  to  say 
tome?" 

Instantly  her  alarm  overcame  her  defiant  attitude. 

"  No,  no.  I  am  terribly  worried.  I  want  your 
help,  oh!  so  much." 

She  extended  her  hand  timidly  as  though  in 
apology,  but  still  offended,  he  withdrew  his,  saying: 

"  Anything  I  can  do  and  you  need  not  fear  that  I'll 
take  advantage  of  it !  " 

"  Oh ! "  she  shrank  back  and  then  in  a  moment 
said,  "  Bo  jo,  forgive  me  —  I  am  very  cruel  —  I  know 
it.  Will  you  forgive  me?" 

"  I  forgive  you,"  he  said  at  last,  trembling  at  the 
sweetness  of  her  voice,  resolved  whatever  the  tempta 
tion,  to  show  her  that  he  could  control  himself. 

"  Bojo,  everything  is  going  against  Dad  —  every 
thing.  Doris  must  come  back  and  we  must  get  word 
to  Dolly.  He  needs  all  the  help  we  can  give  him." 

"Are  you  sure?"  he  said,  amazed. 

"Oh!  I  know." 

"  But  your  father  has  millions  and  in  the  Pitts 
burgh  &  New  Orleans  he  made  at  least  ten  more. 
How  can  it  be  ?  " 

"  I  overheard  —  I  listened  and  then  —  then  mother 
told  me." 

"When?" 

"  The  night  after  the  wedding  —  that  in  another 
month  we  might  be  ruined  —  that  I  —  I  ought  to  look 
to  the  future." 

"  Oh,  like  Doris !  "  he  cried. 

"Yes,  that  was  what  she  meant,"  she  said  with  a 


PATSIE  APPEALS  FOR  HELP          267 

shudder.  "  Think  of  it,  my  mother,  my  own  mother. 
Then  I  went  to  him  —  to  Dad  —  but  he  would  tell 
me  nothing  —  only  laughed  and  said  everything  was 
all  right,  but  I  knew !  I  don't  know  how  or  why,  but 
I  knew  from  the  look  in  his  eyes." 

"  Yet  I  can't  believe  it,"  he  said  incredulously. 

"  Oh !  I  feel  so  alone  and  so  helpless,"  she  cried, 
twisting  her  hands.  "  Something  must  be  done  and 
I  don't  know  how  to  do  it.  Bojo,  you  must  help 
me  —  you  must  tell  me.  It's  money  —  he  can't  get 
money  —  I  believe  no  one  will  lend  it  to  him."  Sud 
denly  she  turned  on  him,  caught  his  arm, — "  You  say 
Doris  knew,  Dad  told  her  —  before  the  wedding!  " 

"  Yes  —  because  she  told  me." 

"  Oh !  that  is  too  terrible,"  she  cried,  "  and  know 
ing  it  she  allowed  him  to  make  her  a  gift  of  half  a 
million." 

"  He  did  that?     You  are  certain?  " 

"  Absolutely.     I  saw  the  bonds." 

"  But  then  that  proves  everything  is  all  right,"  he 
cried  joyfully. 

"  You  don't  know  Dad,"  she  said,  shaking  her  head 
mournfully.  "  Bojo,  we  must  get  Doris  back,  she 
may  do  things  for  you  that  she  won't  do  for  any  one 
else  —  Oh !  yes,  you  don't  know.  Then  I  have  some 
thing —  a  quarter  of  a  million.  I  want  to  turn  it 
into  cash.  He  won't  take  it  from  me  if  he  knew. 
But  you  might  deposit  it  to  his  credit,  make  him  be 
lieve  some  one  did  it  anonymously  —  couldn't  that  be 
done?" 

He  raised  her  hand  with  a  sudden  swelling  in  his 
throat  and  kissed  it,  murmuring  something  incoher 
ent. 


268  MAKING  MONEY 

"  That  is  nothing  to  do,  nothing,"  she  said,  shak 
ing  her  head. 

"  I  wish  I  could  go  to  him,"  he  said  doubtfully. 

"  You  can.  You  can.  I  know  Dad  believes  in 
you,  trusts  you.  Oh!  if  you  would." 

"  Of  course  I  will  and  at  once,"  he  said  joyfully. 
He  leaned  out  the  window  and  gave  the  order. 
"  Heavens,  child,  we've  forgotten  all  about  dinner. 
I  shall  have  to  invite  myself."  He  took  her  hand, 
patting  it  as  though  to  calm  her.  "  It  may  not  be 
so  bad  as  you  imagine.  We'll  telegraph  Doris  to 
night,  the  Boskirks  can  do  a  lot.  Of  course  they'll 
help.  Then  there's  your  mother  —  she  has  money  of 
her  own,  I  know." 

"  That's  what  I'm  afraid  of  —  mother,"  she  said 
in  a  whisper. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  Don't  ask  me.  I  shouldn't  have  said  it.  And 
yet  —  and  yet — " 

"  We  are  almost  there,"  he  said  hurriedly.  He 
wanted  to  say  something  to  her,  revolting  at  the  dis 
cipline  he  had  imposed  on  himself,  something  from 
the  heart  and  yet  something  at  which  she  would  not 
take  offense.  He  hesitated  and  stammered  — 
"  Thank  you  for  coming  to  me.  You  know  —  you 
understand,  don't  you?  " 

She  turned,  her  glance  rested  on  his  a  long  mo 
ment,  she  started  as  though  to  say  something,  stopped 
and  turned  hurriedly  away,  but  brief  as  the  moment 
had  been,  a  feeling  of  ineffable  content  came  over 
him.  The  next  moment  they  came  to  a  stop.  In  the 
vestibule  she  bade  him  wait  in  the  little  parlor  and 


"  'He  wants  to  see  you  now,'  she  said  " — Page  269 


PATSIE  APPEALS  FOR  HELP          269 

went  in  ahead  to  the  library.  He  had  picked  up  a 
paper  and  paced  up  and  down,  scanning  it  anxiously, 
with  brief  glances  down  the  wide  luxurious  salons  and 
at  the  liveried  servants  who  seemed  to  move  nerv 
ously,  all  eyes  and  ears,  scenting  danger  in  the  air. 
The  accent  of  fear  was  in  the  headlines  even.  He 
was  staring  at  a  caption  telling  of  rumored  suspen 
sions  and  prophecies  of  ill  when  Patsie  came  tripping- 
back. 

"  It's  all  right.  He  wants  to  see  you  now,"  she 
said,  happiness  in  her  eyes,  holding  out  her  hand  to 
lead  him. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

DRAKE  ADMITS   HIS  DANGER 

DRAKE  was  before  the  fireplace,  moving  or  rather 
switching  back  and  forth,  and  this  unwonted 
nervousness  seemed  an  evil  augury  to  Bo  jo.  How 
ever,  at  the  slight  rustle  of  the  portieres,  Drake  came 
forward  with  energetic  strides,  his  hand  flung  out  — 

"  Well,  stranger,  almost  thought  you'd  fled  the 
country.  How  are  you?  Glad,  mighty  glad,  to  see 
you."  He  stood  with  a  smile,  patting  the  shoulder 
of  Patsie,  who  leaned  against  his  side.  "  Let's  see 
your  hands,  Tom.  They  tell  me  you've  become  quite 
a  horny-handed  son  of  toil." 

"  I'm  mighty  glad  to  see  you,"  said  Bo  jo,  studying 
him  anxiously.  At  first  he  felt  reassured,  the  old 
self-possession  and  careless  confidence  were  there  in 
tone  and  gesture.  It  was  only  when  he  examined 
him  more  closely  that  his  forebodings  returned. 
About  the  eyes,  not  perceptible  at  first,  but  lurking  in 
the  depths  was  a  hunted,  restless  look,  which  struck 
the  young  man  at  once. 

"  I  wanted  Bo  jo  so  to  come,"  said  Patsie  breath 
lessly.  "  I  thought  —  in  some  way  —  somehow  he 
might  be  of  help." 

"  I  only  wish  I  could,"  said  Bojo  instantly.  "  You 
know  you  can  trust  me." 

"  Yes,  I  know  that,"  said  Drake  briefly  with  a  sud- 

270 


DRAKE  ADMITS  HIS  DANGER         271 

den  clouding  over  of  his  face.  He  added  stubbornly, 
pulling  his  daughter's  ear  with  a  kindly  look,  "  This 
young  lady  is  all  in  a  panic  over  nothing.  Comes 
from  talking  business  before  them." 

"Oh,  Daddy,  why  not  be  truthful?  Whatever 
comes  we  can  face  it.  Only  let  us  know,"  said  Patsie 
with  her  large  eyes  fixed  sadly  on  his  face  in  unbelief. 

"  I'm  in  a  fight  —  a  big  fight,  Tom,  that's  all,  a 
little  tougher  than  other  fights,"  he  said  loudly  as 
though  talking  to  himself.  "  If  you  want  to  see 
some  ructions  and  learn  a  few  things  that  may  help 
you  in  dealing  with  certain  brands  of  coyotes  later, 
why  come  in  —  just  possible  you  might  fit  in  handy." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Bojo  gratefully,  exalted  to 
the  seventh  Heaven  by  this  permission,  which  seemed 
to  bring  him  back  the  old  intimacy.  Patsie  was  look 
ing  at  him  with  shining  eyes. 

"  Yes,  but  how  about  your  work  —  the  factory  ?  " 
said  Drake. 

"  The  factory  be  damned,"  said  Bojo  fervidly, 
with  the  American  instinct  for  the  fitness  of  the 
direct  word.  All  broke  out  laughing  at  his  impetuos 
ity. 

"  Well,  Tom,  I  always  did  want  you  in  the  family," 
said  Drake,  clapping  him  on  the  shoulder  with  a  sly 
look  at  Patsie.  "  Have  it  as  you  wish.  I'll  be  mighty 
glad  to  have  you,  though  you  did  give  me  a  pretty 
stiff  lesson ! " 

At  this  moment  when  Patsie  and  Bojo  did  not  dare 
to  look  at  each  other,  the  situation  was  luckily  saved 
by  the  announcement  of  dinner. 

In  the  dining-room  they  waited  several  moments 
for  Mrs.  Drake  to  appear  until  finally  a  footman 


brought  the  news  that  the  mistress  of  the  house  was 
indisposed  and  begged  them  to  sit  down  without  her. 
Drake  looked  rather  startled  at  this  and  went  off  into 
a  moody  abstraction  for  quite  a  while,  during  which 
Patsie  exchanged  solicitous  glances  with  Bo  jo. 

"  It  is  more  serious  than  he  will  admit,"  he  thought. 
"  I  must  get  a  chance  to  speak  to  him  alone.  He  will 
never  tell  the  truth  before  Drina." 

Dinner  over,  a  rather  anxious  meal  partaken  of  in 
long  silences  with  occasional  bursts  of  forced  conver 
sation,  Bojo  found  opportunity  to  whisper  to  Patsie 
as  they  returned  towards  the  library. 

"  Make  some  excuse  and  leave  us  as  soon  as  you 
can.  I'll  see  you  before  I  go." 

She  gave  him  a  slight  movement  of  her  eyes  to 
show  she  comprehended  and  went  dancing  in  ahead. 

"  Now  before  you  begin  on  business,  let  me  make 
you  both  comfortable,"  she  cried.  She  indicated 
chairs  and  pushed  them  into  their  seats,  laughing. 
She  brought  the  cigars  and  insisted  on  serving  them 
with  lights,  while  each  watched  her,  charmed  and 
soothed  by  the  grace  and  youth  of  her  spirits,  though 
each  knew  the  reason  of  her  assuming.  She  camped 
finally  on  the  arm  of  her  father's  chair,  with  a  final 
enveloping  hug,  which  under  the  appearance  of  exu 
berance,  conveyed  a  deep  solicitude. 

"  Shall  I  stay  or  do  you  want  to  talk  alone?  " 

"  Stay."  Drake  caught  the  hand  which  had  stolen 
about  his  neck  and  patted  it  with  rough  tenderness. 
*'  Besides  I  want  you  to  get  certain  false  ideas  out  of 
your  head.  Well,  Tom,  I'll  tell  you  the  situation." 
He  stopped  a  moment  as  though  considering,  before 
beginning  again  with  an  appearance  of  frankness 


DRAKE  ADMITS  HIS  DANGER         273 

which  almost  convinced  the  young  man,  though  it 
failed  before  the  alarmed  instinct  of  his  daughter. 
"  Miss  Patsie  here  is  taking  entirely  too  seriously 
something  her  mother  repeated  to  her.  I  won't  at 
tempt  to  deny  that  the  times  are  shaky.  They  are. 
They  may  become  suddenly  worse.  That  depends  en 
tirely  on  a  certain  group  of  men.  But  the  strong 
point  as  well  as  the  weak  point  in  the  present  situa 
tion  is  that  it  can  depend  on  a  certain  group.  There 
will  be  no  panic  for  the  simple  reason  that  in  a  panic 
this  group  will  lose  in  the  tens  of  millions  where 
others  lose  thousands.  Now  this  group  in  the  past 
through  their  control  direct  or  inter-related  has  been 
able  to  dominate  the  centers  of  credit,  the  money  loan 
ing  institutions,  such  as  the  great  banks  and  insur 
ance  companies.  By  this  means  they  have  been  in  a 
measure  able  to  keep  to  themselves  the  great  indus 
trial  exploitations  dependent  on  the  ability  to  finance 
in  the  hundreds  of  millions.  More,  they  have  been 
able  to  limit  to  narrow  fields  such  men  as  myself  and 
other  newcomers,  who  wish  to  rise  to  the  same  finan 
cial  advantage.  Lately  this  supremacy  has  been 
threatened  by  the  rise  of  a  new  financial  idea,  the 
Trust  company.  This  new  form  of  banking,  due  to 
the  scope  permitted  under  the  present  law,  has  been 
able  to  deal  in  business  and  to  make  loans  on  collat 
eral  which,  while  valid,  is  forbidden  a  bank  under 
the  statutes.  The  Trust  companies,  able  to  deal 
in  more  profitable  business  and  to  pay  good  interest 
consequently  on  deposits,  have  developed  so  enor 
mously  as  to  threaten  to  overshadow  the  banks.  Back 
of  all  this  the  Trust  companies  have  been  developed 
and  purchased  by  the  younger  generation  of  financiers 


274  MAKING  MONEY 

in  order  to  acquire  the  means  of  providing  themselves 
with  the  credit  necessary  to  develop  their  large 
schemes  of  industrial  expansion,  without  being  at  the 
mercy  of  influences  which  can  be  controlled  by  others. 
From  the  moment  the  dominant  group  perceived  this 
phase  of  the  development  of  the  Trust  company,  war 
was  certain.  That's  where  I  come  in.  Pretty  dry 
stuff.  Can  you  get  it  ?  " 

Patsie  nodded,  more  interested  perhaps  in  her 
father's  manner  than  in  what  he  said.  Bojo  listened 
with  painful  concentration. 

"  After  my  deal  in  Indiana  Smelters  and  the  turn 
in  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  I  knew  that  the  knives 
were  out  against  me.  I  tried  to-  make  peace  with 
Gunther  but  I  might  just  as  well  have  tried  to  sleep 
with  the  tiger.  I  saw  that.  There  were  several 
things  I  wanted  to  do  —  big  things.  I  had  to  have 
credit.  Where  could  I  get  it  —  dare  to  get  it  ?  So  I 
went  into  the  Trust  companies.  They  want  to  get  me 
and  they  want  to  get  them."  He  stopped,  rubbed  his 
chin  and  said  with  a  grin,  "  Perhaps  they  may  sting 
me  —  good  and  hard  —  but  at  the  worst  we  could 
worry  along  on  eight  or  nine  millions,  couldn't  we, 
living  economically,  Patsie  ?  " 

"  Is  that  the  worst  it  could  mean  ?  "  she  said,  draw 
ing  off  to  look  in  his  eyes. 

He  nodded,  adding : 

"  Oh,  it  isn't  pleasant  to  have  fifteen  to  twenty  mil 
lions  clipped  from  your  fleece,  but  still  we  can  live 
—  live  comfortably." 

She  pretended  to  believe  him,  throwing  herself  in 
his  arms. 


DRAKE  ADMITS  HIS  DANGER         275 

"Oh!     I'm  so  relieved." 

His  hand  ran  over  her  golden  head  in  a  gentle 
caress  and  his  face,  as  Bojo  saw  it,  was  strained  and 
grim,  though  his  words  were  light: 

"  But  I'm  not  going  to  lose  those  twenty  millions, 
not  if  I  can  help  it! " 

Patsie  sprang  up  laughing,  caught  Bojo's  signal 
and  ran  out  crying : 

"  Back  in  a  moment.     Must  see  how  mother  is." 

When  the  curtains,  billowing  out  at  her  tumultuous 
exit,  had  fluttered  back  to  rest,  Bojo  said  quietly: 

"  Mr.  Drake,  is  that  what  you  wish  me  to  believe?  " 

"  Eh,  what's  that?"  said  Drake,  looking  up. 

"  Am  I  to  believe  what  you've  just  told?  " 

There  was  a  long  moment  between  them,  while 
each  studied  the  other. 

"  How  far  can  I  trust  you?  "  said  Drake  slowly. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Can  I  have  your  word  that  you  will  not  tell  Pat 
sie  —  or  any  one  ?  " 

Bojo  reflected  a  moment,  frowning. 

"  Is  that  absolutely  necessary?  " 

"  That's  the  condition." 

"  Very  well,  I  shall  tell  her  nothing  more  than  she 
knows.  Will  that  satisfy  you?  " 

Drake  nodded  slowly,  his  eyes  still  on  the  young 
man  as  though  finally  considering  the  advisability  of 
a  confidence. 

"That  was  partly  true,"  he  said  slowly;  "only 
partly.  There's  more  to  it.  It's  not  a  question  yet 
of  being  wiped  out,  but  it  may  be  a  question.  Tom, 
I'm  not  sure  but  what  they've  got  me.  It  all  depends 


276  MAKING  MONEY 

on  the  Atlantic  Trust.  If  they  dare  let  it  go  to  the 
wall  — "  He  grinned,  took  a  long  whistle  and  threw 
up  his  arms. 

"  But  surely  not  all  —  you  don't  mean  wiped  out?  " 
said  Bo  jo,  aghast.  "  You  must  be  worth  twenty, 
twenty-two  million." 

"  I  am  worth  that  and  more,"  said  Drake  quietly. 
"  On  paper  and  not  only  on  paper,  under  any  other 
system  of  banking  in  the  world,  I  would  be  worth 
twenty-seven  millions  of  dollars.  Every  cent  of  it. 
Remember  that  afterward,  Tom.  You'll  never  see 
anything  funnier.  Twenty-seven  millions  and  to-day 
I  can't  borrow  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  on  col 
lateral  worth  forty  times  that.  You  don't  under 
stand  it.  I'll  tell  you." 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

A  FIGHT  IN  MILLIONS 

DRAKE  did  not  immediately  proceed.  Having 
impulsively  expressed  his  intention  to  reveal  his 
financial  crisis,  he  hesitated  as  though  regretting  that 
impulse.  He  left  the  fireplace  and  went  from  door 
to  door  as  though  to  assure  himself  against  listeners, 
but  aimlessly,  rather  from  indecision  than  from  any 
precaution.  Returning,  he  flung  away  his  cigar, 
though  it  was  but  half  consumed,  and  took  a  fresh 
one,  offering  the  box  to  Bojo  without  perceiving  that 
he  was  in  no  need.  So  apparent  was  his  disinclina 
tion,  that  Bojo  felt  impelled  to  say: 

"  Perhaps  you  would  rather  not  tell  me,  sir !  " 

"  I'd  only  be  telling  you  what  my  enemies  know," 
said  Drake  sharply,  flinging  himself  down.  "  They 
know  to  a  dollar  what  I've  pledged  and  what  I  can 
draw  on  —  Oh !  trust  them." 

"  Mr.  Drake,"  said  Bojo  slowly,  "  I  don't  need  to 
tell  you,  do  I,  that  I  would  do  anything  in  this  world 
for  Patsie,  and  that  without  knowing  in  the  slightest 
what  she  feels  toward  me  —  believe  me.  I  say  this 
to  you  —  because  I  want  you  to  know  that  I've  come 
only  in  the  wildest  hope  that  I  might  help  in  some 
way  —  some  little  way." 

Drake  shook  his  head. 

"  You  can't,  and  yet  — "     He  hesitated  a  last  time 

277 


278  MAKING  MONEY 

and  then  said,  in  a  dreamy,  indecisive  way,  so  foreign 
to  his  nature  that  it  showed  the  extent  of  the  mental 
struggle  through  which  he  had  passed,  "  and  yet  there 
are  some  things  I'd  be  glad  to  have  you  know  —  to 
remember,  Tom,  after  it's  all  over,  particularly  if 
you  come  into  the  family.  For  I  don't  think  you 
quite  understand  my  ways  of  fighting.  You  took  a 
rather  harsh  view  of  certain  things  from  your  stand 
point  —  I  admit  you  had  some  cause." 

"  I  didn't  judge  you,"  said  Bojo  hastily,  blushing 
with  embarrassment.  "  I  was  only  judging  myself, 
my  own  responsibility." 

"  Well,  you  judged  me  too,"  said  Drake,  smiling. 
"  Yes  —  and  I  felt  it,  and  I'll  say  now  that  I  felt 
uncomfortable  —  damned  uncomfortable.  That's  why 
I'm  going  to  let  you  see  that  according  to  my 
ways  of  looking  at  things  I  play  the  game  square. 
I'm  going  to  let  you  overhear  a  certain  very  interest 
ing  little  meeting  that  is  going  to  take  place"  (he 
glanced  at  the  clock)  "  in  about  half  an  hour.  Mr. 
James  H.  Haggerdy  is  coming  to  make  me  a  propo 
sition  from  Gunther  and  Co.  It'll  interest  you." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Bojo  simply. 

"  Now,  here's  the  situation  in  a  nutshell.  If  I 
could  weather  this  depression  a  year,  six  months,  or 
if  there  had  been  no  depression,  but  normal  times,  I 
would  be  able  to  swing  a  deal  and  clear  out  at  over 
one  hundred  millions  —  I  gambled  big.  It  was  in 
me  —  fated  —  I  had  to  sink  or  swim  on  a  big  stake. 
If  I'd  have  won  out,  I'd  have  been  among  the  kings 
of  the  country.  That's  what  I  wanted  —  not  money. 
It's  the  poker  in  my  blood.  However.  Here's  the 
case:  I  made  money,  as  you  know  —  a  great  deal 


A  FIGHT  IN  MILLIONS  279 

of  money.  I  was  worth  considerable  after  the  In 
diana  Smelters  got  going.  I  was  worth  ten  millions 
more  when  I  had  sold  back  Pittsburgh  &  New 
Orleans.  That  was  the  crisis.  I  wanted  to  get  in 
with  the  inner  crowd  —  not  simply  to  be  a  buccaneer, 
for  that's  about  what  I'd  been.  That's  why  they 
bought  their  old  railroad  back.  I  was  rated  a  dan 
gerous  man.  I  was.  So  is  every  man  dangerous  till 
he  gets  what  he  wants.  I  went  to  Gunther  and  laid 
my  cards  on  the  table.  Gunther's  a  big  man,  the  only 
man  I'd  have  done  it  to,  but  he  has  one  fault  —  he 
can  hate.  The  ideal  master  ought  to  have  no  friends 
and  no  enemies.  I  said  to  Gunther : 

"  '  Gunther,  let's  talk  straight.  I  want  to  come  into 
the  field  —  on  your  level  —  you  know  what  that 
means.  Your  word  and  I'll  be  satisfied.  Am  I  big 
enough  yet?  Do  you  want  me  inside  or  outside  the 
breastworks?  Say  the  word.' 

"  He  sat  there  smiling,  listening,  gazing  out  the 
window. 

"  *  I  know  what  I'm  asking's  a  big  thing,  to  forget 
what  I've  cost  you.  It  is  a  lot  to  ask.  But  you're 
big  enough  to  see  beyond  it.  Say  the  word  and  I'm 
yours,  through  thick  and  thin,  from  now  on,  and  I'll 
lay  before  you  now  a  campaign  as  big  as  anything 
you  handled  so  far.  All  I  want  is  your  word  —  is 
it  peace  or  war ! ' 

"  That's  where  he  played  square. 

" '  I  don't  forget  easily,'  he  said. 

" '  So  that's  the  answer  ?  '  I  said. 

"  He  nodded. 

" '  I'm  sorry.  I  came  to  you  because  you're  the 
only  man  down  here  I'm  willing  to  look  up  to/  I  said, 


280  MAKING  MONEY 

for  I  knew  there  was  no  use  going  on,  but  as  I  went 
out  I  plumped  in  a  last  shot :  '  In  a  year  from  now 
I'm  going  to  put  the  same  offer  to  you,  and  when  I 
do  I'll  carry  a  few  more  guns.' 

"  I  went  out  and  I  got  to  work.  As  a  mattter  of 
fact,  I  had  already  begun.  I  went  in  with  Majendie 
of  the  Atlantic  Trust,  Ryerson  of  the  Columbian,  and 
Dryser  of  the  Seaboard  Trust.  I  bought  my  way  in. 
I'd  got  a  say  in  institutions  able  to  lend  millions  on 
good  collateral  without  having  to  duck  at  a  bell 
pressed  downtown.  Then  I  started  with  a  group  of 
Middle- Westerners  to  make  myself  felt.  There  was 
only  one  big  field  left  and  it  was  a  question  how  long 
that  would  be  left  alone.  They  had  organized  their 
steel  industries  and  their  railroads,  they'd  knocked 
out  or  digested  competitors,  controlled  the  field  of 
production  and  had  things  sailing  along  gloriously, 
but  they'd  forgotten,  or  almost  forgotten,  one  thing 
which  they  ought  to  have  controlled  the  first,  the  iron 
to  pour  into  their  furnaces  and  the  coke  to  keep  them 
going.  When  they  woke  up,  they  found  me  in  con 
trol  of  the  Eastern  Coke  and  Iron  Company,  holding 
about  eighty  million  dollars'  worth  of  land  in  West 
Virginia  and  Virginia  which  they  had  to  have  sooner 
or  later.  Then  they  woke  up  with  a  vengeance. 
The  first  thing  they  did  was  to  send  word  to  me 
through  Haggerdy  to  get  out  of  the  Seaboard  Trust 
and  be  a  good  little  boy  and  they'd  let  me  come 
around  and  play.  I  laughed  at  that,  though  I  knew 
it  meant  war  to  the  knife.  About  ten  weeks  ago  I 
got  a  taste  of  what  they  could  do.  Of  course,  to 
carry  what  I  was  carrying,  I  had  need  of  big  sums, 
and  I  had  large  blocks  of  Eastern  Coke  and  Iron 


A  FIGHT  IN  MILLIONS 

hypothecated  not  only  among  my  Trust  Company 
connections,  but  in  banks  around  town,  where  it  was 
upon  good  strong  margins.  Ten  weeks  ago,  when 
I  dropped  in  at  a  certain  bank  to  renew  my  loan,  I 
was  told  that  they  had  decided  on  account  of  the 
business  outlook,  the  downward  trend  of  prices  and 
what  not,  to  call  in  their  loans  and  proceed  on  a  very 
conservative  basis.  Of  course,  under  that  rigama- 
role  I  knew  what  was  doing  —  orders  from  head 
quarters  —  and  more  to  follow.  I  placed  the  loan 
with  the  Atlantic  Trust  and  waited.  Last  week  an 
other  refusal.  This  time  the  warning  was  a  little 
more  pointed.  The  president  himself  looked  with 
grave  concern  —  that's  always  the  expression  —  on 
the  amount  of  Eastern  C.  and  I.  stock  hypothecated  at 
present.  A  collapse  in  the  stock,  which  had  been 
declining  steadily,  might  seriously  upset  financial  con 
ditions  all  over  the  country,  etc.  Well,  I  weathered 
that  and  a  couple  others  until  I've  got  where  I'm 
stumped.  A  bank  has  got  the  right  to  decide  for 
itself  what  it  wants  to  lend  money  on;  it  can  decline 
a  loan  on  any  security  or  all  securities  offered,  and 
what  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?  The  trust  com 
panies  are  carrying  all  they  can  and  besides  they're 
being  squeezed  themselves.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
with  solid  properties  worth  to-day  in  the  market 
from  fifty-five  to  fifty-seven  millions,  of  which  we 
own  sixty  per  cent.,  there  isn't  a  bank  in  town  will 
lend  us  a  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  word  has 
been  passed  around  and  those  who  are  independent 
don't  dare.  I  need  two  million  cash  by  day  after  to 
morrow,  absolutely  must  have  it,  and  they  know  it 
and  Haggerdy's  coming  here  to  look  me  over,  exam- 


MAKING  MONEY 

ine  my  pocketbook  and  say,  '  What  have  you  got  that 
we  want ! '  " 

At  this  moment  the  butler  came  with  a  card. 

"Did  you  say  any  one  was  here?"  said  Drake, 
studying  the  card. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Show  Mr.  Haggerdy  in  when  I  ring,"  said 
Drake,  with  a  nod  of  dismissal.  He  rose  and  beck 
oning  Bojo  placed  him  in  the  embrosine  of  the  win 
dow,  where  a  slight  recess  hid  him  completely  from 
the  rest  of  the  room. 

"  No  need  of  a  record;  take  it  in  just  for  your  own 
curiosity,"  he  said,  returning  to  his  desk. 

Mr.  James  H.  Haggerdy  came  in  like  a  bulky  ani 
mal  emerging  from  a  cage  and  blinking  at  the  sun. 
He  was  not  the  man  to  beat  about  the  bush,  and  in 
his  own  long  and  varied  experience  in  Wall  Street  he 
had  been  called  many  names,  but  he  had  never  been 
branded  with  anything  petty,  a  fact  which  made  a 
certain  bond  of  sympathy  between  the  two  men. 

"Hello,  Dan!" 

"Hello,  Jim!" 

Haggerdy  moved  to  a  chair,  refused  a  cigar,  and 
said  directly : 

"  Well,  Jim,  I  suppose  you  know  what  I've  come 
for." 

"  Sure,  to  carry  off  the  furniture  and  the  silver 
ware,"  said  Drake,  laughing. 

"  That's  about  it ! "  said  Haggerdy,  nodding  with 
a  grim  twist  of  his  lips.  He  had  a  sense  of  humor, 
though  he  seldom  laughed.  "  Dan,  they've  got  you." 

"  So  they  seem  to  think." 


A  FIGHT  IN  MILLIONS  283 

"  And  they  want  your  Eastern  C.  and  I.  stock." 

"  That's  quite  evident.  Will  they  accept  it  as  a 
present  or  do  they  want  me  to  pay  them  for  taking 
it  ?  "  said  Drake  grimly. 

"  What's  the  use  of  faking,"  said  Haggerdy. 
"  Gunther  wants  the  stock  and  is  going  to  have  it. 
Do  you  want  to  sell  now  or  hand  it  over  later. 
You're  a  sensible  man,  Dan;  you  ought  to  know 
when  you're  beaten." 

"  I'm  not  sure  I  am  a  sensible  man,"  said  Drake 
facetiously. 

"  It's  all  in  the  game.  You're  not  kicking  because 
you've  been  caught,  are  you  ? "  said  Haggerdy,  as 
though  in  surprise. 

"  No.  If  I  were  in  Gunther's  place  I  should  do 
just  what  he's  doing.  Quite  right.  Only  I'm  not 
sure,  Jim,  he'd  do  what  I  do  were  conditions  re 
versed." 

"  You  paid  around  79  for  the  stock.  You've  got 
a  million  shares  you're  carrying.  The  stock's  to-day 
at  54.  We'll  buy  you  out  at  55.  Take  it,  Dan." 

"  Thanks  for  the  advice,  but  my  answer's  No." 

"Why?" 

"  That  stock's  going  to  be  worth  150  in  two  years." 

"  Two  years  isn't  to-day.  You're  facing  condi 
tions."  He  looked  at  him  as  though  trying  to  under 
stand  his  motive.  "  The  old  man  isn't  bargaining 
when  he  says  55 ;  he  means  55  and  no  more." 

"  I  know  that." 

"  Where  are  you  going  to  raise  two  million  dollars 
cash  in  forty-eight  hours?  You  see,  we  are  well 
informed." 


284  MAKING  MONEY 

Drake  smiled  as  though  this  were  the  easiest  mat 
ter  in  the  world. 

"  Suppose  the  Clearing  House  refuses  to  clear  for 
the  Atlantic  Trust  to-morrow.  .What'll  that  mean  ?  " 

"  A  panic." 

"  And  where  would  your  Eastern  Coke  and  Iron 
go  then?" 

"  To  40  or  35,  wherever  you  wanted  it  to  go  — 
possibly." 

"  And  can't  you  take  a  hint?  " 

"  Not  when  I  know  a  stock  that's  worth  over  a 
hundred  has  been  pushed  down  on  purpose  to  freeze 
me  out." 

"  You're  not  talking  morality,  Dan  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no !  You  think  I'm  beaten.  I  know  I'm 
not." 

"  You're  bluffing,  Dan." 

"  Find  out." 

"  To-morrow' 11  be  too  late." 

"  Possibly,  but  if  Gunther  can  buy  it  at  40  or  35, 
why  should  he  pay  55  to  me?  " 

"  I  think  he  likes  you,  Dan,"  said  Haggerdy  slowly. 

"  No.  He  wants  to  make  sure  of  getting  the 
stock.  He  doesn't  want  a  scramble  for  it,"  said 
Drake.  "  I'm  surprised  to  hear  you  talking  such 
nonsense." 

Haggerdy  rose,  shaking  his  head  impressively. 

"  A  mistake,  Dan  —  a  mistake."  He  waited  a 
moment  and  then  played  his  last  card.  "Of  course, 
if  you  sell  out  in  this,  it's  understood  Gunther'll  see 
you  through  on  the  rest.  And  that  may  mean  the 
question  of  the  roof  over  your  head." 

"  That  means  credit  at  the  bank  —  that  I'll  be  al- 


A  FIGHT  IN  MILLIONS  285 

lowed  to  put  up  good  collateral  like  a  respectable 
member  of  the  crowd? " 

"  Phrase  it  as  you  will,  that's  it.  Gunther  will  buy 
out  your  Trust  Company  holdings  for  what  you  paid 
for  them  and  he'll  see  you  through  on  Indiana  Smelt 
ers —  that  means  something  saved  out  of  the  wreck 

—  and,  Dan,  there's  a  big  smash  up  just  over  the 
horizon." 

"  I  thought  that  was  the  proposition,"  said  Drake, 
ruminating.  "  Well,  Jim,  it's  more  than  ever  no." 

"  Why  more  than  ever  ?  " 

"  Because  this  in  good  old-fashioned  English 
means  just  one  thing  —  getting  out,  saving  my  skin 
at  the  expense  of  others." 

"  Quite  so  —  every  man  for  himself." 

"  Not  with  me.  I've  given  my  word  on  the  Coke 
and  Iron  deal.  I'll  see  it  through.  Tell  Gunther 
I'll  sell  out  at  80  all  or  nothing,  and  give  him  twenty- 
four  hours." 

Haggerdy  stretched  out  his  hand  in  farewell. 

"  Are  you  sure  of  the  other  fellows,  Dan?  "  he  said 
slyly. 

"  I  don't  give  a  damn  what  the  other  fellows  may 
do.  I've  given  my  word  and  I  stand  by  that." 

"  I'm  sorry  for  you,  Dan,"  said  Haggerdy,  shaking 
his  head  ominously.  "  Telephone  me  if  you  change 
your  mind." 

"  Thanks  for  your  wishes,  but  don't  lose  any  sleep 

—  expecting,"  said  Drake,  laughing. 
Bo  jo  came  out  aghast. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  the  Atlantic  Trust  is  in 
danger,"  he  cried,  foreseeing  all  in  a  glance  the  struc 
tures  that  would  go  toppling. 


286  MAKING  MONEY 

"  It's  in  danger,  all  right,"  said  Drake  moodily, 
"  but  they  won't  —  they  don't  dare  let  it  close  —  im 
possible  ! " 

"  And  if  you  can't  raise  two  million?  " 

Drake  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  But  surely  there's  some  way,"  Bojo  cried  help 
lessly,  "  some  friends  —  there  must  be  a  way  to  raise 
it.  This  house  surely  is  worth  twice  that  —  it  isn't 
mortgaged,  is  it  ?  " 

"  No,  it's  quite  clear,  but  it  belongs  to  my  wife," 
said  Drake,  and  again  there  came  into  his  face  that 
shadow  of  broken  despair  which  Bojo  had  noticed  a 
score  of  times. 

"  But  then  —  does  she  realize  — " 

"  Yes,  she  knows,"  said  Drake  to  himself.  It  was 
easy  to  see  that  the  interview  with  Haggerdy  had 
profoundly  convinced  him.  "  Mrs.  Drake's  fortune 
outside  of  that  is  fully  three  millions,  which  I  have 
given  her — " 

"  But  why  haven't  you  told  her  and  your  daughter 
—  they  ought — "  Suddenly  he  stopped  short,  his 
eyes  met  Drake's  and  a  suspicion  of  the  truth  struck 
him.  "  You  don't  mean  — " 

"  Don't,"  said  Drake  helplessly,  and  for  the  first 
time  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  vastness  of  his  inner 
suffering.  The  next  minute  he  had  hurriedly  recov 
ered  his  mask,  saying :  "  Don't  ask  me  about  that 
* —  I  can't  —  I  must  not  tell  you." 

"  Mrs.  Drake  has  refused  to  help  you!  "  exclaimed 
'Bojo,  carried  away.  "  She  has  —  she  has.  I  see  it 
by  your  face." 

Drake  walked  to  the  fireplace  and  stood  gazing 


A  FIGHT  IN  MILLIONS  287 

down.     Presently  he  nodded  as  though  talking  to 
himself: 

"  Yes,  my  wife  could  come  to  my  assistance.  I 
have  been  forced  to  ask  her.  She  won't.  I  have 
been  living  in  a  fool's  paradise.  That's  what  hurts !  " 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

PATSIE'S  SCHEME 

WHEN  Bojo  returned  home  after  a  brief  stolen 
interview  with  Patsie,  he  could  hardly  believe 
what  he  had  himself  witnessed.  It  seemed  incredible 
that  all  that  magnificence  and  luxury  might  be  dissi 
pated  in  a  night,  could  depend  upon  the  wavering  of 
an  hour  in  a  mad  exchange.  But  deeper  than  the 
feeling  of  impending  disaster  —  which  he  even  now 
could  not  realize  —  was  the  disclosure  of  the  true 
state  of  affairs  in  the  Drake  household.  Without 
telling  Patsie  the  extent  of  her  father's  danger,  he 
had  told  of  Drake's  applying  to  his  wife  for  assist 
ance  and  her  refusal.  Then  Patsie  brokenly  had  told 
her  part,  how  she  had  pled  with  her  mother  and 
sought  in  vain  to  place  before  her  the  true  seriousness 
of  the  situation,  her  father's  peril  and  his  instant 
need.  To  entreaties  and  remonstrances  Mrs.  Drake 
remained  deaf,  sheltering  herself  behind  an  invariable 
answer.  Why  should  she  throw  good  money  after 
bad?  What  was  to  be  gained  by  it?  If  he  had 
thrown  away  the  family  fortune,  all  the  more  reason 
for  her  to  save  what  she  had.  The  worst  was  that 
Dolly  was  abroad  and  Doris  and  her  husband  were 
cruising  off  Palm  Beach  and  the  telegram  they  sent 
might  not  reach  them  in  time. 

The  next  morning  Bojo  waited  fitfully   for  the 

288 


PATSIE'S  SCHEME  289 

opening  of  the  Stock  Exchange,  with  the  dreaded 
memories  of  Haggerdy's  prophecies  running  in  his 
head.  It  took  him  back  to  the  days  when  he  himself 
had  been  a  part  of  the  vast  maelstrom  of  speculation. 
He  breakfasted  with  one  eye  on  the  clock  waiting  for 
the  hands  to  advance  to  the  fatal  hour  of  ten.  At 
five  minutes  past  that  hour  he  went  feverishly  across 
the  way  to  the  ticker  in  the  neighboring  hotel  broker 
age.  He  had  a  feeling  as  though  he  were  being 
sucked  back  into  the  old  life  of  violent  emotions  and 
unreal  theatrical  upsets.  He  remembered  the  day 
before  the  drop  in  Pittsburgh  &  New  Orleans  when 
he  had  waited  in  the  Hauk  and  Flaspoller  offices 
matching  quarters  with  Forshay  to  endure  the  last 
few  intervening  minutes  before  the  crisis  which  was 
to  sweep  away  their  fortunes  as  a  tidal  wave  obliter 
ates  a  valley.  He  had  not  understood  then  the 
ironical  laughter  in  Forshay's  eyes,  but  as  he  came 
back  again  to  the  old  associations  he  felt  himself  liv 
ing  over  with  a  new  poignant  understanding  the  final 
act  of  that  tragedy. 

Between  the  Tom  Crocker  of  those  breathless  days 
and  the  ordered  self  which  he  had  built  up  during 
these  last  months  of  discipline  there  seemed  to  inter 
vene  unreal  worlds. 

The  group  gathered  in  the  hotel  branch  of  Pitt  & 
Sanderson  were  indolently  interested  rather  than  ex 
cited.  They  were  of  the  flitting  and  superficial  gam 
bling  type,  youngsters  still  new  to  the  excitement 
of  the  game  and  old  men  who  could  not  tear  them 
selves  away  from  their  established  habit.  They 
formed  quite  a  little  coterie  in  which  the  differences 
of  age  and  wealth  were  obliterated  by  the  common 


290  MAKING  MONEY 

bond  of  the  daily  hazard.  He  knew  the  type  well, 
the  reckless  plunger  risking  thousands  on  shallow 
margins,  determined  to  make  or  lose  all  at  one  kill 
ing;  the  rodent,  sharp-eyed,  close-fisted  veteran,  wary 
from  many  failures,  who  was  content  to  play  for 
half  a  point  rise  and  take  his  instant  profit.  The 
lounging  group  studied  him  with  a  moment's  curi 
osity,  seeking  in  which  category  to  place  the  intruder, 
whether  among  the  shifting  truant  crowd  stopping 
for  the  moment's  information  or  among  that  harried 
occasional  group  of  lost  souls  who  came  expectant 
of  nothing  but  complete  disaster. 

Bojo  went  to  the  tape  with  almost  the  feeling  with 
which  a  reformed  drunkard  closes  his  hand  over  the 
glass  that  had  once  been  his  destruction.  His  mind, 
excited  by  the  memories  of  the  night  before,  was  pre 
pared  for  a  shock.  To  his  surprise  the  clicking  pro 
cession  of  values  —  Reading,  Union  Pacific,  Amalga 
mated  Copper,  Northern  Pacific  —  showed  but  frac 
tional  declines.  The  break  he  had  come  to  witness 
did  not  develop.  He  waited  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
half  an  hour,  an  hour.  The  market  continued  weak 
but  heavy. 

"  Nothing  much  doing,"  he  said,  turning  to  his 
neighbor,  a  financial  rail  bird  of  a  rather  horsy  type, 
grisled  and  bald. 

"Playing  it  short?" 

"  Haven't  yet  made  up  my  mind.  What  do  you 
think?  "  he  said,  to  draw  the  other  on. 

"  Think  ?  "  said  the  other  with  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  gambler's  conviction.  "  Lord,  there's  only  one 
thing  to  think.  This  market's  touched  bottom  two 


PATSIE'S  SCHEME  291 

weeks  ago.  When  it  starts  to  rise  watch  things  go 
kiting." 

"You  think  so?"  said  Bojo,  with  the  instinctive 
tendency  to  seek  hope  in  the  slightest  straws  that  is 
the  strangest  part  of  all  the  strange  acquaintanceships 
of  the  moment  which  speculation  engenders.  He 
had  to  listen  for  five  minutes  to  impassioned  oratory, 
to  hearing  all  the  reasons  recounted  why  the  long 
depression  was  nothing  but  psychological-  and  an  up 
ward  turn  a  certainty.  He  slipped  away  presently, 
rather  relieved  at  this  confidence  from  a  shallow 
prophet,  and  when  he  met  Patsie  by  appointment,  the 
news  he  brought  her  dispelled  the  feelings  of  fore 
boding  under  which  she  had  been  suffering  the  last 
week. 

"  After  all,  perhaps  we  have  been  rather  panicky," 
he  said,  with  a  new  assumption  of  cheerfulness. 
"  Remember  one  thing,  your  father  knows  this  game 
and  when  he  says  that  the  big  group  does  not  intend 
to  have  a  panic,  because  they  themselves  have  too 
much  to  lose,  Patsie,  he  must  know  what  he  is  talk 
ing  about." 

"If  Doris  were  only  here,"  she  said,  her  woman's 
instinct  unconvinced. 

"  You  sent  the  telegram?  " 

"  Last  night.  I  should  have  had  the  answer  this 
morning.  That's  what  worries  me.  Perhaps  it 
won't  reach  them  in  time  and  even  if  it  does  it  will 
be  over  two  days  before  they  can  get  back." 

"  It  would  help  a  good  deal,"  he  admitted.  The 
prospect  of  going  to  Doris  for  help  after  what  had 
happened  was  one  from  which  he  shrank,  yet  he  was 


292  MAKING  MONEY 

resolved  to  stop  at  nothing,  willing  to  sacrifice  his 
pride  if  only  to  secure  the  aid  which,  knowing  their 
connections,  he  knew  Boskirk  could  bring  the  im 
perilled  financier. 

"  At  least  I  shall  do  what  I  can  do,"  she  said,  with 
a  determined  shake  of  her  head. 

He  looked  at  her  doubtfully.  "  I  am  afraid,  Pat- 
sie,  that  a  few  hundred  thousands  will  not  help  much 
—  but  if  your  mind  is  made  up." 

"  It  is  made  up." 

"  Very  well,  what  address  shall  I  give  them  ? " 
He  leaned  forward  and  repeated  the  number. 

Twenty  minutes  later  they  were  in  the  office  of 
Swift  and  Carlson,  in  the  inner  room,  talking  to  the 
senior  partner.  Thaddeus  C.  Swift  was  one  of  the 
innumerable  agents  through  whom  Daniel  Drake 
operated  in  the  placing  of  his  more  serious  enter 
prises,  of  the  older  generation  of  Wall  Street,  con 
servative,  seemingly  unruffled  by  the  swirling  tide  of 
strident  young  men  which  churned  about  him.  He 
had  known  Patsie  since  her  childhood  and  received 
her  as  he  would  his  own  daughter,  with  perhaps  a 
quizzical  and  searching  glance  at  the  young  man  who 
waited  a  little  uncomfortably  in  the  background. 
Patsie  opened  the  conversation  directly  without  the 
slightest  hesitation. 

"  Mr.  Swift,"  she  said  imperiously,  "  you  must 
give  me  your  word  that  you  will  keep  my  confidence." 
And  as  this  caused  the  old  gentleman  to  stare  at  her 
with  a  startled  look,  she  added  insistently :  '  You 
must  not  say  a  word  of  my  coming  here  or  whatever 
I  may  ask  you  to  do.  Promise." 

"  Sounds  quite  terrible,"  said  Mr.  Swift,  smiling 


J*»tj    ae-.iTFs-.uEiw 


'Your  promise.    No  one  is  to  know  what  I  do  ' " — Page  293 


PATSIE'S  SCHEME  293 

indulgently.  In  his  mind  he  decided  that  the  visit 
meant  a  demand  for  a  few  hundred  dollars  for  some 
girlish  fancy.  "Well,  how  shall  I  swear?  Cross 
my  heart  and  all  that  sort  of  thing?  " 

"  Mr.  Swift,  I  am  serious,  awfully  serious,"  stamp 
ing  her  foot  with  annoyance,  "  and  please  do  not 
treat  me  as  a  child." 

He  saw  that  the  matter  was  of  some  importance, 
and  scenting  perhaps  complications,  withdrew  into  a 
defensive  attitude. 

"  Suppose  you  tell  me  a  little  of  what  you  want 
of  me,"  he  said  carefully,  "  before  I  give  such  a 
promise." 

Patsie,  who  for  her  reasons  did  not  wish  her 
father  to  have  the  slightest  suspicion  of  this  visit, 
hesitated,  looked  from  Mr.  Swift  to  Bojo,  and  turned 
away  nervously,  seeking  some  new  method  to  gain 
her  end. 

"  Miss  Drake  is  coming  to  you  as  a  client,"  said 
Bojo,  deciding  to  speak,  "  to  consult  you  about  her 
interests.  So  long  as  it  is  about  her  business  affairs, 
it  seems  quite  natural,  doesn't  it,  that  you  should  keep 
her  confidence  ?  " 

"  Eh,  what  ? "  said  Mr.  Swift,  frowning.  He 
seemed  to  repeat  the  question  to  himself,  and  an 
swered  grudgingly:  "Of  course,  of  course,  that's 
all  right,  that's  true.  If  it  is  only  to  consult  me 
about  your  business  affairs  — " 

"  It  is  absolutely  that,"  said  Patsie  hastily.  She 
stood  beside  him,  holding  out  her  hand  obstinately. 
"  Your  promise.  No  one  is  to  know  what  I  do." 

Mr.  Swift  made  a  mental  reservation  and  nodded 
his  head.  The  three  sat  down. 


294  MAKING  MONEY 

"  How  much  have  I  deposited  in  stocks  and  bonds 
to  my  account?  "  asked  Patsie. 

"  Do  you  wish  a  list?  "  said  Mr.  Swift,  preparing 
to  touch  a  button. 

"  No,  no,  not  now ;  only  the  value  —  in  a  general 
way." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Mr.  Swift,  caging  his  fingers 
and  looking  over  their  heads  to  the  depths  of  the 
ceiling,  "of  course,  it  depends  somewhat  on  the 
state  of  the  market.  While  what  you  have  is  the 
best  of  securities,  still,  as  you  must  know,  even  the 
best  will  not  bring  to-day  what  it  would  a  year  ago." 

"  Yes,  but  in  a  general  way,"  she  insisted. 

"  In  a  general  way,"  he  said  carefully,  "  I  should 
say  what  you  have  would  represent  a  capital  of 
$500,000  to  $510,000.  Possibly,  under  favorable 
conditions,  a  little  more." 

Patsie  and  Bo  jo  looked  at  him  in  astonishment. 

"  You  said  $500,000  ?  "  she  said  incredulously. 

He  nodded. 

"  You  are  thinking  of  Doris,"  she  said,  bewildered. 

"  Not  at  all.  That  is  approximately  the  value  of 
your  holding.  Your  father  deposited  with  me  se 
curities  to  the  value  of  $260,000  on  your  coming  of 
age  last  January." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  I  know  that,  but  — " 

"And  securities  of  the  par  value  of  $250,000  on 
the  occasion  of  your  sister's  marriage." 

"  He  did  that?  "  exclaimed  Patsie,  her  heart  in  her 
throat ;  "  he  really  did  that  ?  "  Her  eyes  filled  with 
tears  and  she  turned  away  hastily  with  an  emotion 
quite  inexplicable  to  the  older  man.  Bojo  himself 
was  much  moved  at  the  thought  of  how  the  father 


PATSIE'S  SCHEME  295 

in  the  face  of  a  supreme  conflict  had  been  willing  to 
risk  his  reserves  to  provide  for  the  future  of  his 
daughters. 

Patsie  came  back,  her  emotion  in  a  measure  con 
trolled.  She  placed  her  hand  upon  the  shoulder  of 
Mr.  Swift,  who  continued  to  gaze  at  her  without 
comprehension. 

"I  know  you  don't  understand;  you  will  later. 
Mr.  Swift,  I  want  you  to  sell  every  one  of  my  securi 
ties,  now,  immediately.  I  want  everything  in  cash." 

Mr.  Swift  looked  at  her  as  though  he  had  seen  a 
ghost  and  then  rapidly  at  Bo  jo.  In  his  mind  per 
haps  was  working  some  fantastic  idea  of  an  elope 
ment.  Perhaps  Patsie  guessed  something  of  this, 
for  she  blushed  slightly  and  said : 

"  My  father  needs  it.     I  want  to  give  it  to  him." 

Her  words  cleared  the  atmosphere,  though  they 
left  Mr.  Swift  obstinately  determined. 

"  But,  Patsie,"  he  said,  as  a  father  might  to  a  child, 
"  this  is  a  bombshell.  I  can't  allow  you  on  my  own 
responsibility  to  do  a  thing  like  this  on  impulse. 
You  should  not  ask  me.  How  do  you  know  your 
father  is  in  need?  He  has  not  sent  you  here?  " 

"  No,  no ;  never.  Don't  you  know  him  better  than 
that?  If  he  knew  he  never  would  permit  it.  That's 
the  difficulty,  don't  you  see?  He  must  never  know 
of  it  and  you  must  arrange  some  way  so  he  will 
never  guess  it  is  coming  from  me." 

Mr.  Swift  stared  at  her  utterly  amazed.  At  length 
he  turned  and,  addressing  Bojo,  said : 

"You  are  in  the  confidence  of  Miss  Drake?  If 
so,  perhaps  you  can  help  me  out.  Does  she  know 
what  she  is  doing,  and  is  it  possible  that  she  has  any 


296  MAKING  MONEY 

valid  reason  for  believing  that  her  father  can  possibly 
be  in  need  of  such  heroic  assistance  as  this?  " 

His  face  expressed  so  much  amazement  mingled 
with  consternation  at  the  thought  that  Daniel  Drake 
could  possibly  be  in  difficulties  that  Bo  jo  for  the  first 
time  perceived  what  he  should  have  foreseen,  the 
direct  danger  to  the  financier  from  the  suspicion  of 
his  true  situation  which  must  come  from  the  revela 
tion  of  Patsie's  intentions. 

"  Mr.  Swift,"  he  said,  in  great  perturbation,  "  I 
do  not  know  whether  we  have  done  wisely  in  speak 
ing  to  you  so  frankly.  You  will  perhaps  understand 
now  why  Miss  Drake  insisted  on  a  promise  of 
secrecy." 

"What!  Daniel  Drake  in  need  of  money?"  said 
Mr.  Swift,  staring  at  him  or  rather  through  him,  and 
already  perceiving  the  tremendous  significance  of  this 
disclosure  upon  the  distraught  times. 

"  At  least  Miss  Drake  believes  so,"  said  Bojo  care 
fully.  "  She  may  exaggerate  the  necessity.  What 
she  is  doing  she  is  doing  because  she  has  made  up  her 
mind  herself  to  do  it  and  not  because  I  have  advised 
her  or  suggested  it  in  the  slightest.  You  are  too 
good  a  friend  of  the  family  I  know,  sir,  to  speak  of 
what  has  occurred." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Swift,"  said  Patsie,  breaking  in  and 
seizing  his  hand  impulsively,  "  you  will  help  me, 
won't  you?  " 

Mr.  Swift  gazed  at  her  blankly,  a  hundred 
thoughts  racing  through  his  mind;  still  too  upset  by 
the  news  he  had  just  received,  which  could  not  fail 
to  be  full  of  significance  to  his  own  fortunes,  to  be 


PATSIE'S  SCHEME  297 

able  to  focus  for  the  moment  on  the  immediate  de 
cision. 

Patsie  repeated  her  demand  with  a  quivering  lip. 
He  came  out  of  his  abstraction  and  began  to  think, 
arranging  and  rearranging  a  pile  of  letters  before 
him,  convinced  at  last  that  the  situation  was  of  the 
highest  seriousness. 

"  Wait,  wait  a  moment ;  I  must  think  it  over,"  he 
said  slowly.  "  This  is  an  unusually  serious  decision 
you  have  put  up  to  me.  My  dear  Patsie,  you  know 
nothing  about  such  matters;  you're  a  child." 

"  I  am  eighteen  and  I  have  a  right  to  dispose  of 
what  belongs  to  me." 

"  Yes,  yes,  you  have  the  right,  but  I  have  the  right 
also  to  advise  you  and  to  make  you  see  the  situation 
as  it  exists."  His  manner  changed  immediately  and 
he  said  simply  and  frankly,  "  Since  you  have  trusted 
me,  you  must  give  me  your  full  confidence.  I  shan't 
abuse  it.  Mr.  Crocker,  I  can  see  by  your  manner 
and  your  attempt  at  caution  that  this  matter  is  not 
a  trifle.  Do  you  know  from  your  own  knowledge 
how  serious  it  is?  Please  do  not  hide  anything  from 
me." 

"  I  won't,"  said  Bojo.  "  I  know  of  my  personal 
knowledge  and  I  believe  it  to  be  as  serious  as  it  can 
possibly  be." 

The  two  men  exchanged  a  glance  and  the  look  in 
both  their  eyes  told  Swift  even  more  than  his  words 
revealed,  more  than  he  wished  Patsie  herself  to  sus 
pect. 

"  Suppose  the  very  worst  were  true,"  said  Mr. 
Swift  after  a  moment's  thought,  "that  your  father 


298  MAKING  MONEY 

was  in  danger  of  complete  failure?  I  am  merely 
supposing  this  extreme  case  to  show  you  the  diffi 
culty  of  my  position.  Your  father  has  placed  these 
securities  to  your  account  with  the  distinct  intention 
that  whatever  happens  to  him  you  shall  be  provided 
for  as  his  other  daughters  are  provided  for,  and  un 
doubtedly  his  wife  is  taken  care  of.  If  I  should 
allow  you  to  do  this,  even  as  a  matter  of  sentiment 
it  is  possible  in  an  extreme  case  everything  you  have 
as  well  as  everything  your  father  possesses  might 
be  wiped  away.  Do  you  realize  that  ?  " 

"  And  that's  just  what  I  am  afraid  may  happen," 
she  exclaimed,  worried  beyond  the  thought  of  cau 
tion  by  her  forebodings. 

"And  you  are  willing  to  take  the  risk  of  losing 
everything?"  he  said  slowly;  "for  after  all  there 
is  no  reason  why  you  should  sacrifice  what  belongs 
to  you  rightfully  and  legally  even  if  your  father 
should  fail  completely." 

"  No  reason  ?  "  she  cried.  "  Do  you  think  for  a 
moment  that  money  means  anything  to  me  when  he, 
my  father,  the  one  who  has  given  it  to  me,  needs 
it?" 

"But  if  even  this  won't  save  him?"  he  persisted, 
shaking  his  head. 

"  What  has  that  got  to  do  with  the  question?  "  she 
said  impatiently,  almost  angrily.  "  Everything  I 
have  I  want  him  to  have.  That's  all  there  is  to  it." 

He  gazed  at  her  fresh  and  ardent  face  a  moment 
and  then  laid  his  hand  over  hers,  muttering  some 
thing  underneath  his  breath  which  Bo  jo  did  not 
catch,  although  he  divined  its  reverence. 


PATSIE'S  SCHEME  299 

"  Then  you  will  do  as  I  wish?  "  she  cried  joyfully, 
guessing  his  surrender. 

He  nodded,  gave  a  helpless  glance  to  Bo  jo  and 
cleared  his  throat  huskily.  "  As  you  wish,  my  dear," 
he  said  very  gently. 

"And  you  will  sell  everything  at  once?"  she 
cried. 

"  I  can't  promsie  that,"  he  said  quietly.  "  Such 
a  block  of  securities  can't  be  thrown  on  the  market 
all  at  once.  But  I  will  do  my  best." 

"  But  how  long  will  it  take  ?  "  she  said  in  dismay. 

"  Four  days,  possibly  five." 

"  But  that  will  be  too  late.  I  must  have  it  all  the 
day  after  to-morrow." 

"  That  will  mean  a  serious  sacrifice,"  he  said. 

"  What  do  I  care  ?  I  must  have  it  by  to-morrow 
night." 

"  You  are  determined  ?  " 

"  Absolutely." 

"  It  will  have  to  be  so  then." 

"  And  when  that  is  done,"  she  cried  joyfully,  clap 
ping  her  hands  in  delight,  "  you  will  help  me  to  send 
it  to  him  so  he  will  never  suspect  it  ?  " 

He  nodded,  yielding  every  point,  perhaps  more 
moved  than  he  cared  to  show. 

They  left  the  office  after  Patsie  had  signed  the 
formal  order. 

At  the  house  they  found  a  telegram  from  Doris. 

Dear  Patsie,  your  telegram  has  thrown  us  into  the  greatest 
anxiety.  Jim  and  I  are  leaving  at  once.  Will  be  in  New  York 
day  after  to-morrow.  Courage.  We  will  do  everything  to  help. 

DORIS. 


300  MAKING  MONEY 

This  news  and  their  success  of  the  morning  re 
stored  their  spirits  immeasurably.  It  seemed  as 
though  clouds  had  suddenly  cleared  away  and  left 
everything  with  a  promise  of  sunshine  and  fair 
weather.  They  lunched  almost  gaily.  Mrs.  Drake 
still  kept  her  room  and  Patsie  was  impatient  for  the 
day  to  pass  and  the  next  one  to  have  the  certainty 
that  the  sale  was  achieved.  Confident  from  her  first 
success  she  declared  once  Doris  was  back  she  would 
go  with  her  sister  to  her  mother  and  shame  her  if 
they  could  not  persuade  her  into  a  realization  of  the 
gravity  of  the  situation.  When  Bo  jo  left  they  had 
even  forgotten  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour  that 
such  bugbears  as  Wall  Street,  loans  and  banks  could 
exist.  The  realization  of  the  seriousness  of  human 
disasters  had  somehow  left  them  simple  and  devoid 
of  artifices  or  coquetry  before  each  other.  He  found 
again  in  her  the  Patsie  of  earlier  days.  He  com 
prehended  that  she  loved  him,  had  always  loved  him, 
that  the  slight  misunderstanding  that  had  mo 
mentarily  arisen  between  them  had  come  from  the 
long  summer  renunciation  and  the  passionate  jeal 
ousy  of  one  sister  for  the  other.  He  comprehended 
this  all,  but  did  not  take  advantage  of  his  knowledge. 
On  leaving  her  he  held  her  a  moment,  his  hands  on 
her  shoulders,  gazing  earnestly  into  her  eyes.  From 
this  intensity  of  his  look  she  turned  away  a  little 
frightened,  not  quite  reconciled.  Already  his,  but 
still  hesitating  before  the  final  avowal.  The  knowl 
edge  of  how  indispensable  he  was  to  her  in  these  mo 
ments  of  trial  restrained  him  in  the  impulsive  move 
ment  towards  her.  He  took  her  hand  and  bowed 
over  it  a  deep  bow,  a  little  quixotic  perhaps,  and  hur- 


PATSIE'S  SCHEME  301 

ried  away  without  trusting  himself  to  speak.  Out 
side  he  went  rushing  along  as  though  the  blocks  were 
mere  steps,  swinging  his  cane  and  humming  to  him 
self  gloriously.  He  was  so  happy  that  the  thought 
that  any  one  else  could  be  unhappy,  that  any  disaster 
could  threaten  her  or  any  one  who  belonged  to  her, 
seemed  incredible. 

"  Everything  is  going  to  turn  out  all  right,"  he 
repeated  to  himself  confidently.  "Everything;  I 
feel  it." 

He  went  back  to  the  Court  radiant  and  gay  and 
dressed  for  dinner,  surprising  Granning,  who  came 
in  preoccupied  .and  anxious,  with  the  flow  of  animal 
spirits.  At  the  sight  of  his  contageous  happiness 
Granning  looked  at  him  with  a  knowing  smile. 

"Well,  things  aren't  so  black  after  all,  then?" 

"  You  bet  they're  not !  " 

"  Glad  to  hear  it.  You  had  me  scared  last  night. 
My  guess  is  that  something  besides  stocks  and  bonds 
must  have  cheered  you  up,"  he  added  suspiciously 
with  a  wise  nod  of  his  head.  "  Glad  to  see  it,  old 
fellow.  You've  been  mum  and  gloomy  as  a  hippo 
potamus  long  enough." 

"  Have  I?  "  said  Bojo,  laughing  with  a  little  con 
fusion.  "  Well,  I'm  not  going  to  be  any  longer. 
You're  an  old  hippopotamus  yourself."  He  got  him 
around  the  knees  and  flung  him  with  an  old  time 
tackle  on  the  couch,  and  they  were  scrambling  and 
laughing  thus  when  the  telephone  rang.  It  was 
Patsie's  voice,  very  faint  and  pitiful. 

"  Have  you  heard?  The  Clearing  House  has  re 
fused  to  clear  for  the  Atlantic  Trust.  Oh,  Bojo, 
what  does  it  mean?  " 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

ONE  LAST   CHANCE 

BOJO  came  away  from  the  telephone  with  a  face 
so  grave  that  Granning  greeted  him  with  an  in 
voluntary  exclamation: 

"Good  heavens,  Bojo,  what's  wrong?" 

"  The  Atlantic  Trust  has  gone  under.  The 
Clearing  House  refused  to  clear.  You  know  what 
that  means." 

"  But,  I  say,  you're  not  affected.  You've  been 
out  of  the  market  for  months.  I  say,  you  didn't 
have  anything  up." 

"  No,  no,"  said  Bojo  grimly.  He  went  and  sat 
down,  his  head  in  his  hands.  "  I'm  not  thinking 
of  myself.  Some  one  else.  I  can't  tell  you;  you 
must  guess.  It  will  probably  all  be  out  soon  enough. 
By  George,  this  is  a  cropper." 

"  I  think  I  understand,"  said  Granning  slowly. 
He  sat  down  in  turn,  kicking  his  toes  against  the 
twisted  andirons  on  the  hearth.  "  The  Atlantic 
Trust  —  and  a  billion  —  who  knows,  a  billion  and 
a  half  deposits!  What  the  deuce  are  we  coming  to? 
It  will  hit  us  all  —  bad  times !  " 

Bojo  got  up  heavily  and  went  out.  Hardly  had 
he  stepped  from  the  leafy  isolation  of  the  Court  into 
the  strident  conflict  of  Times  Square  when  he  felt 
the  instant  alarm  that  great  disasters  instantaneously 

302 


ONE  LAST  CHANCE  303 

convey  to  a  metropolitan  crowd.  Newspaper  trucks 
were  screaming  past,  halting  to  fling  out  great 
bunches  of  the  latest  extras  to  fighting,  scrambling 
groups  of  street  urchins  who  dispersed,  screaming 
their  shrill  evil  in  high-pitched,  contagion-spreading 
voices.  Every  one  was  devouring  the  last  panic- 
ridden  sheet,  some  hurrying  home,  others  stopping 
in  their  tracks  spellbound  to  read  to  the  end.  He 
bought  an  extra  hastily  from  a  strident  newsboy 
who  thrust  it  in  his  face.  The  worst  was  true.  The 
great  Atlantic  Trust  had  been  refused  clearance. 
Darkest  suspicions  were  thrown  upon  its  solvency. 
The  names  of  other  banks,  colossal  institutions,  were 
linked  under  the  same  awful  rumors.  The  morrow 
would  see  a  run  on  a  dozen  banks  such  as  the  genera 
tion  had  not  witnessed.  He  hailed  a  taxicab  and 
hurried  uptown.  Drake  had  told  him  that  every 
thing  depended  upon  the  Atlantic  Trust.  Now 
that  this  had  gone  under  did  this  mean  his  absolute 
ruin?  Patsie  was  already  waiting  for  him  as  he 
drew  up  before  the  great  gray  stone  mansion.  She 
flung  herself  in  his  arms,  trembling  and  physically 
unnerved.  He  was  afraid  that  she  was  going  to 
collapse  completely  and  began  solicitously  to  whis 
per  in  her  ear  many  deceptive  words  of  hope  and 
comfort. 

"  It  may  not  be  so  bad.  Your  father  —  have  you 
seen  your  father?  How  do  you  know  what  he  has 
done  ?  Perhaps  he  has  come  to  some  agreement  this 
afternoon.  Perhaps  he  has  saved  himself  by  some 
bold  stroke.  I  believe  him  capable  of  anything." 

She  stopped  the  futile  flow  of  words  with  her 
fingers  across  his  lips. 


304  MAKING  MONEY 

"  Oh,  how  happy  we  were  this  afternoon,"  she 
said,  for  the  moment  almost  breaking  down.  But 
immediately  the  Spartan  courage  which  was  at  the 
bottom  of  her  character  prevailed.  She  drew  her 
self  up,  saying  so  quietly  that  he  was  surprised : 

"  Bojo,  we  mustn't  deceive  ourselves.  This  is  the 
end,  I  know  it.  Whatever  is  to  come  we  must  help 
immediately." 

"  Yet  I  still  feel,  I  can't  help  it,  that  something 
may  have  happened.  He  may  have  been  able  to  do 
something  to-day." 

"  I  wish  I  could  feel  so,"  she  said  sadly. 

With  her  hand  still  in  his  she  led  the  way  into  the 
great  library,  which  seemed  a  region  of  mystifying 
and  gloomy  things,  lit  only  by  the  lights  of  the  desk 
lamps. 

"  All  we  can  do  is  to  wait,"  she  said. 

"  Have  you  seen  your  mother  ?  "  he  said  at  last. 

She  shook  her  head.  "It  is  useless.  I  have  no 
influence  over  her.  Doris  perhaps,  or  Doris'  hus 
band  ;  she  might  do  something  for  fear  of  what  oth 
ers  might  think  of  her,  but  she  wouldn't  do  it  for 
me." 

"  I  can't  understand  it  at  all,"  he  said,  shaking 
his  head. 

"  I  can,"  she  said  quietly.  "  My  mother  doesn't 
love  him.  She  has  never  loved  him.  She  married 
him  just  as  Doris  and  Dolly  married,  for  money,  for 
position." 

"  But  even  then  — " 

"  Yes,  even  then,"  she  took  up  with  a  laugh  that 
had  tears  in  it.  "  Wouldn't  you  think  that  for  the 


ONE  LAST  CHANCE  305 

sake  of  the  family  name  and  honor,  out  of  just  sim 
ple  ordinary  gratitude  for  what  had  been  given  her, 
she  would  part  with  the  half,  even  a  third  of  her 
fortune?  But  you  do  not  know  my  mother.  When 
she  has  made  up  her  mind  nothing  will  ever  change 
it." 

"  Let  us  hope  you  are  wrong." 

She  laughed  again  and  began  walking  up  and 
down,  her  hands  clenched,  trying  to  think  of  some 
way  out. 

"  Poor  Dad,  just  when  he  needs  all  his  courage 
to  go  on  fighting!  This,  too,  has  broken  him  up. 
That's  the  only  sort  of  a  blow  he  couldn't  get  over." 

The  butler  came  in  at  this  moment,  announcing 
dinner. 

"  No,  no;  not  for  me,"  she  said.  "  I  couldn't;  but 
you,  perhaps?" 

"  No,  not  until  your  father  comes  back." 

The  butler  went  out.  Bojo  held  out  his  hand  to 
her,  saying:  "  Come  here;  sit  down  by  me."  Worn 
out  by  the  strain  of  emotions,  she  obeyed  quietly. 
She  came  to  take  a  seat  on  the  sofa  beside  him, 
looked  a  moment  into  his  eyes,  saw  the  depths  of 
tenderness  and  sympathy  there  and  with  a  tired, 
fleeting  smile  laid  her  head  gratefully  on  his  shoul 
der. 

It  was  almost  eleven  o'clock  before  Drake  came 
wearily  in.  They  were  exhausted  with  the  long 
tensity  of  their  vigil,  waiting  for  every  sound  that 
would  announce  his  arrival,  but  at  his  entrance  they 
stood  up,  vibrantly  alert.  One  glance  at  Drake,  at 
the  hunted  and  harassed  look  across  his  forehead 


306  MAKING  MONEY. 

told  Bojo  that  the  worst  had  happened.  Patsie  went 
to  her  father  bravely  with  a  steady  smile  that  never 
wavered  and  put  her  arms  around  his  neck. 

"  Pretty  bad,  isn't  it,  Dad?  "  she  said. 

He  nodded,  incapable  for  the  moment  of  speech. 

"  I  am  so  sorry.  Never  mind,  even  if  we  have  to 
begin  at  the  bottom  we  will  win  out  again." 

Bojo  had  come  up  and  taken  his  free  hand,  look 
ing  in  his  eyes  anxiously  for  the  answer. 

"  I  guess  the  game  is  up,"  said  Drake  at  last. 
"  There  is  only  one  chance,  and  though  I  swore  I 
never  would  do  it  — "  he  stopped  a  moment,  running 
his  hand  over  Patsie's  golden  curls,  "  I  guess  I'll 
have  to  swallow  my  pride,"  he  said. 

"  You're  going  to  her,"  said  the  daughter,  shud 
dering. 

"  Once  more,"  he  said  grimly. 

Leaving  her  he  went  to  the  little  table  by  the  desk 
and  poured  out  a  stiff  drink. 

"  Whew,  what  a  day !  Two  hours  more  and  I 
might  have  pulled  through;  I  thought  I  had  it  all 
fixed  up,  but  that  Clearing  House  mess  ended  that! 
You  can't  sell  men  eggs  at  five  cents  a  piece  when 
they  know  to-morrow  they  can  get  the  same  at  three 
cents." 

He  tried  to  smile,  but  back  of  it  all  Bojo  was 
alarmed  to  see  the  disorder  in  the  physical  and  moral 
man  which  had  gained  over  him  since  yesterday. 
Despite  Drake's  determination  to  assume  a  stoic  at 
titude  he  felt  the  biting  bitterness  and  revolt  that 
was  gnawing  at  his  soul. 

Patsie  wanted  him  to  sit  down  to  rest  a  moment, 


ONE  LAST  CHANCE  307 

to  have  something,  if  only  a  morsel,  brought  in,  but 
he  refused  absent-mindedly. 

"  No,  no,  I  must  get  it  over  with.  I  must  know 
where  I  stand." 

Still  he  delayed  his  departure,  evidently  revolting 
against  the  role  which  he  had  determined  to  play. 

"  Your  mother  is  home?  "  he  said  abruptly. 

"  She  is  home  —  in  her  room,"  said  Patsie. 

He  took  a  final  turn  before  at  last  making  up  his 
mind,  then  he  gave  a  short  gesture  of  his  hand  to 
wards  them,  saying: 

"  Wait." 

The  next  moment  he  went  out,  not  with  the  old 
accustomed  swinging  gait,  but  with  a  lagging  step 
as  though  already  convinced  of  the  futility  of  his 
errand. 

"  He  is  doing  it  for  his  daughters,"  thought  Bojo ; 
"  only  that  would  make  him  so  humble  himself." 
He  felt  with  a  little  compunction  that  he  had  judged 
Drake  rather  harshly,  for  in  these  last  interviews  it 
had  seemed  to  him  at  times  that  there  had  been  an 
absence  of  that  gameness  which  in  his  mind  he 
would  like  to  have  associated  with  the  romantic 
figure  of  the  manipulator.  Now  with  the  secrets  of 
the  household  laid  bare  to  him  he  felt  strongly  the 
inner  vulnerability  of  such  men.  Able  outwardly 
to  defy  the  great  turns  of  fortune  and  present  a  smil 
ing  front  to  adversity,  yet  unable  to  resist  the  mortal 
blow  which  strikes  at  the  vital  regions  in  their  senti 
ments  and  their  affections.  Implacable  as  he  had 
been,  neither  giving  nor  asking  quarter  in  his  strug 
gles  with  his  own  kind,  Bojo  at  length  realized  the 


308  MAKING  MONEY 

tenderness  and  pride  amounting  almost  to  a  weak 
ness  with  which  he  idolized  his  own.  What  he  had 
seen  working  in  the  soul  of  the  man  in  this  last  half 
hour  made  him  feel  more  than  simply  the  ruin  of  his 
worldly  possessions.  The  moment  was  too  tense  for 
words,  the  issue  too  tremendous.  They  sat  side  by 
side,  his  hand  over  hers,  staring  ahead,  waiting. 

Ten  minutes,  half  an  hour  elapsed  without  a  sound. 
He  pictured  to  himself  to  what  arguments  and  en 
treaties  the  desperate  father  must  resort,  trying 
through  his  inexperience  to  visualize  the  drama  in  one 
of  these  domestic  scenes  which  pass  unguessed. 

Patsie  heard  him  first.  She  sprang  up  with  a 
sharp  intaking  of  her  breath.  He  rose  less  precipi 
tately,  hearing  at  last  the  sound  of  returning  foot 
steps.  The  next  moment  Drake  came  into  the  room 
and  stood  gazing  at  the  two  erect  figures  of  the 
young  man  and  the  young  girl.  Then  he  tried  to 
smile  and  couldn't.  Her  instinct  guessed  on  the  in 
stant  what  had  happened.  She  went  to  him  swiftly 
and  put  her  arms  about  his  shoulders  as  though  to 
support  him. 

."  Never  mind,  Dad,"  she  said  bravely.  "  Don't 
you  care,  money  isn't  everything  in  this  world. 
Whatever  happens,  you've  got  me." 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

THE  DELUGE 

THE  next  day  the  deluge  broke. 
On  leaving  Patsie  and  her  father  he  had  gone 
down  the  Avenue  in  a  vain  hope  that  his  father 
might  be  in  town,  hoping  to  catch  him  at  his  hotel. 
On  his  way  to  his  amazement  he  perceived  a  long 
line  of  curious  shapes  stretched  along  the  sidewalk. 
As  he  came  nearer  he  saw  a  file  of  men  and  women, 
some  standing,  some  seated,  camped  out  for  the 
night.  Then  he  noticed  above  all  the  great  white 
columns  of  the  Atlantic  Trust  and  he  realized  that 
these  were  the  first  frightened  outposts  of  the  army 
of  despair  and  panic  which  would  come  storming  at 
the  doors  on  the  morrow.  By  the  morning  a  dozen 
banks  scattered  over  the  city  were  besieged  by  frantic 
hordes  of  depositors,  a  dozen  others  hastily  prepar 
ing  against  the  impending  tide  of  evil  rumor  and 
disaster. 

With  the  opening  of  the  Stock  Exchange  the 
havoc  began,  for  with  the  threatened  collapse  of  gi 
gantic  banking  systems  orders  came  pouring  in  from 
all  over  the  country  to  sell  at  any  price.  In  the  wild 
hours  that  ensued  holdings  were  thrown  on  the  mar 
ket  in  such  quantities  that  the  machinery  of  the  Stock 
Exchange  was  momentarily  paralyzed.  Stocks  were 
selling  at  half  a  dozen  figures  simultaneously,  until 

309 


310  MAKING  MONEY 

it  became  a  human  impossibility  for  the  frantic 
brokers  to  fulfil  the  demands  that  came  pouring  in 
on  them  to  sell  at  any  price.  Any  rumor  was  be 
lieved  and  shouted  frantically :  receivers  were  to  be 
appointed  for  a  dozen  institutions:  the  State  Super 
intendent's  investigation  was  showing  incredible  de 
falcations  and  misuses  of  funds.  Indictments  were 
to  be  returned  against  the  most  prominent  men  in 
the  financial  world,  and  at  the  close  of  the  day  on 
top  of  the  wildest  fabrications  of  the  imagination 
came  the  supreme  horror  of  fact,  Majendie,  the 
president  of  the  Atlantic  Trust,  was  dead,  slain  by 
his  own  hand.  But  what  happened  this  day  wrould 
be  nothing  to  the  morrow. 

At  Patsie's  frantic  request  Bo  jo  went  down  in  the 
late  forenoon  to  see  Mr.  Swift.  He  had  to  wait 
almost  an  hour  in  the  outer  offices,  watching  breath 
less,  frantic  men,  men  of  fifty  and  sixty  as  panic- 
stricken  as  youngsters  of  twenty-five,  breaking  under 
the  strain  of  their  first  knowledge  of  overwhelm 
ing  ruin,  an  indiscriminate  convulsive  mass  pour 
ing  in  and  out.  Then  a  door  opened  and  a  secretary 
issued  him  in.  Mr.  Swift  received  him  with  an  agi 
tated  clutch  of  the  hand,  and  valuing  the  precious 
seconds,  without  waiting  for  his  questions,  burst  out : 

"  Mr.  Crocker,  it's  absolutely  humanly  impossible 
for  me  to  do  what  Miss  Drake  requested.  We  dis 
posed  yesterday  of  over  forty  thousand  dollars.  To 
sell  now  would  be  a  financial  slaughter  to  which  I 
simply  will  not  give  my  permission.  Moreover,  it's 
all  very  well  to  talk  of  selling,  but  who's  going  to 
buy?" 

"  If  you  can't  sell,"  said  Bojo,  gloomily,  "  Miss 


THE  DELUGE  311 

Drake  would  like  to  know  what  you  could  raise  on 
her  holdings  as  security." 

"She  wants  to  know?"  said  Mr.  Swift,  on  edge 
with  the  anxiety  of  twenty  operations  to  be  safe 
guarded,  "  I'll  tell  you.  Not  a  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  nor  ten  thousand.  There  isn't  an  institu 
tion  that  would  dare  weaken  its  cash  supply  to-day 
on  any  security  offered.  Mr.  Crocker,  say  for  me 
that  I  absolutely  and  completely  refuse  to  offer  a 
single  security."  A  door  opened  and  back  of  the 
secretary  the  faces  of  two  new  visitors  were  already 
to  be  seen.  Mr.  Swift  with  scant  ceremony  seized 
his  hand  and  dismissed  him.  "  It  can't  be  done, 
that's  all;  it  can't  be  done." 

Bo  jo  went  out  and  telephoned  the  result.  He 
even  tried,  though  he  knew  the  futility  of  the  at 
tempt,  to  place  a  loan  at  two  banks  where  he  was 
known,  one  his  own  and  the  other  the  depository  for 
the  Crocker  Mills.  At  the  first  he  got  no  further 
than  a  subordinate,  who  threw  up  his  hands  at  the 
first  mention  of  his  plan.  At  the  latter  he  gained  a 
moment's  opportunity  to  state  his  demand  to  the 
vice-president,  who  had  known  him  from  childhood. 
The  refusal  was  as  instantaneous.  The  banks  were 
coming  to  the  aid  of  no  one,  frightened  for  their 
own  security.  He  even  attempted  to  call  up  his 
father  on  long  distance,  but  after  long,  tedious  waits 
he  was  unable  to  locate  him.  What  he  would  have 
asked  of  him  he  did  not  quite  know,  only  that  he 
was  seeking  frantically  some  means,  some  way,  to 
come  to  the  assistance  of  the  girl  he  loved,  even 
though  in  his  heart  he  knew  the  futility  of  her  at 
tempt  ;  perhaps  even  despite  his  admiration  for  her  un- 


312  MAKING  MONEY 

selfishness,  glad  that  the  sacrifice  could  not  be  made. 
He  went  up  later  in  the  afternoon  to  explain  to  her 
all  he  had  tried  to  do,  to  get  her  to  go  for  a  short  ride 
up  the  river  in  order  to  snatch  a  little  rest  and  calm, 
but  Patsie  refused  obstinately.  She  was  afraid  that 
at  any  moment  her  father  might  return  and  call  for 
her,  declaring  that  she  must  be  ready  to  go  to  him. 
Perhaps  she  had  fears  that  she  did  not  express  even 
to  him,  but  she  remained  as  she  had  remained  all 
day,  waiting  feverishly.  Drake  did  not  come  back 
until  long  after  midnight.  Then  there  were  confer 
ences  to  be  held  in  his  library  far  into  the  gray  morn 
ing.  Everything  seemed  topsy-turvy.  The  night 
was  like  the  daytime.  At  every  hour  an  automo 
bile  came  rushing  up,  a  hurried  ring  of  the  bell  fol 
lowed  by  a  ghostly  flitting  passage  into  the  library 
of  strange,  hurrying  figures.  Drake  was  no  longer 
the  dejected,  resigned  man,  broken  in  pride  and  cour 
age,  of  the  night  before.  He  put  them  aside  hastily 
with  a  swift,  convulsive  hug  for  his  daughter  and  a 
welcoming  handshake  for  Bo  jo.  He  would  say 
nothing  and  they  could  guess  nothing  of  all  the  des 
perate  remedies  that  were  being  discussed  and  acted 
upon  in  the  shifting  conference  within  the  library. 
It  was  after  four  o'clock  when  Bo  jo  left,  after  per 
suading  Patsie  of  the  uselessness  of  further  vigil. 
He  felt  too  tremulously  awake  for  need  of  sleep. 
He  went  down  the  Avenue  and  in  the  convalescing 
gray  of  the  weak  and  sickly  dawn  passed  the  grow 
ing  lines  of  depositors  still  obstinately  clinging  to 
their  posts,  feeling  as  though  he  were  walking  a 
world  of  nightmares  and  alarms.  About  seven 
o'clock  he  came  back  to  the  Court  for  a  tub  and  a 


THE  DELUGE  313 

cup  of  coffee.  There  he  received  news  of  Fred 
DeLancy,  who  had  been  in  frantically  the  night  be 
fore  begging  for  loans  to  back  up  his  disappearing 
margins.  Neither  Marsh  nor  Granning  could  come 
to  his  assistance  and  he  had  left  absolutely  unnerved, 
vowing  that  he  would  be  wiped  out  if  he  could  not 
raise  only  ten  thousand  dollars  before  the  morrow. 
Bojo  shook  his  head.  He  had  no  desire  to  help  him. 
The  few  thousands  he  still  retained  seemed  to  him 
something  miraculously  solid  and  precious  in  the 
whirling  evaporation  of  fictitious  values.  There 
was  nothing  he  could  do  before  the  arrival  of  Doris 
and  her  husband,  if  anything  could  be  done  then. 
He  went  down  again  to  Wall  Street  merely  as  a  mat 
ter  of  curiosity  and  entered  the  spectators'  gallery 
in  the  Stock  Exchange.  The  panic  there  had  become 
a  delirium.  He  stood  leaning  over  the  railing  gaz 
ing  profoundly  down  into  this  frenzy  which  had 
once  been  his  life.  Removed  from  its  peril  —  judg 
ing  it.  What  he  saw  was  ugly  to  look  upon.  A  few 
figures  stood  out  grim,  game  and  defiant  to  the  last, 
meeting  the  crisis  as  sportsmen  facing  the  last 
chance.  But  for  the  rest,  the  element  of  the  human 
seemed  to  have  disappeared  in  the  animal  madness 
of  beasts  trapped  awaiting  destruction.  These  shift 
ing,  struggling,  contending  clumps  of  men,  shriek 
ing  and  hoarse,  all  strength  cast  to  the  winds,  fight 
ing  for  the  last  disappearing  rung  of  financial  se 
curity,  gave  him  a  last  final  distaste  of  the  life  he  had 
renounced.  He  went  out  and  passed  another  howl 
ing  group  of  savages  on  the  curb,  feeling  all  at  once 
the  high  note  of  tragedy  that  lies  in  the  manifesta 
tion  of  obliterating  rage  of  a  great  people  disposing 


MAKING  MONEY 

finally  of  all  the  shallow  horde  of  petty  parasites  that 
are  eliminated  by  the  cleansing  force  of  a  great  panic. 

Doris  arrived  in  the  late  afternoon  and  there  was 
a  family  consultation,  at  which  he  was  not  present. 
Whatever  might  have  been  done  the  week  before 
the  issue  had  been  decided.  Drake's  fate  was  in  the 
hands  of  Gunther,  to  whose  house  he  had  been  sum 
moned  that  night  to  learn  the  terms  which  would  be 
accorded  him  by  the  group  of  financial  leaders  who 
had  been  hastily  organized  to  save  the  country  from 
the  convulsion  which  now  threatened  to  overwhelm 
every  industry  and  every  institution. 

At  midnight  Drake  returned  a  ruined  man, 
stripped  of  every  possession,  a  bankrupt.  Only 
Patsie  and  Bo  jo  were  there  when  he  came  in.  A 
certain  calm  seemed  to  have  replaced  the  unnatural 
febrile  activity  of  the  last  forty-eight  hours,  the  calm 
of  accepted  defeat,  the  end  of  hopes,  the  certainty  of 
failure. 

"  It's  over,"  he  said  with  a  nod  of  recognition. 
"  They  got  me.  I'm  rather  hungry ;  let's  have  some 
thing  to  eat." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  it's  over?"  said  Patsie, 
coming  towards  him.  "You  lost?"  He  nodded. 
"How  much?" 

"  Stripped  clean." 

"  You  mean  that  there's  nothing  left,  not  a  cent?  " 

For  the  first  time  the  old  hunted  look  came  back 
to  his  eyes.  "  It's  worse  than  that,"  he  said.  "  It's 
what's  got  to  be  made  good.  Your  Daddy  is  a  bank 
rupt,  Patsie,  one  million  and  a  half  to  the  bad." 

"You  owe  that?" 

"  Pretty  close  to  it." 


THE  DELUGE  315 

"  But  what  will  you  do  ?  They  can't  put  you  to 
prison." 

"  Oh,  no,"  he  said  grimly,  "  there's  nothing  to  be 
ashamed  of  in  it;  that  is,  so  far."  He  stopped  a 
moment  and  watching  him  closely  they  both  divined 
that  he  was  thinking  of  his  wife.  "  If  worse  comes 
to  worse,"  he  added  moodily,  "  I've  got  to  find  some 
ivay  of  paying  that  over,  every  cent  of  it." 

"But,  Mr.  Drake,"  said  Bojo  hastily,  "surely 
there  is  no  reason  why  you  should  feel  that  way. 
Others  have  met  misfortune  —  been  forced  into 
bankruptcy.  Every  one  will  know  that  it  could  not 
be  helped,  that  conditions  were  against  you,  that  you 
were  forced  into  it." 

"  And  every  one,"  he  said  quickly,  speaking  with 
out  reserve  for  the  first  time,  "  will  say  that  Dan 
Drake  knew  how  to  fail  at  the  right  time  and  in  the 
right  way."  He  gave  a  wave  of  his  hand  as  though 
to  indicate  the  great  house  of  which  he  was  thinking, 
and  added  bitterly:  "What  will  they  think  of  this, 
when  this  goes  on?  They'll  think  just  one  thing  — 
that  I  worked  a  crooked,  double-crossing  game  and 
salted  away  my  fortune  behind  a  petticoat !  By  God, 
that's  what  hurts !  "  He  brought  down  his  fist  with 
an  outburst  of  anger  such  as  they  had  never  seen  in 
him  before  and  sprang  up  trembling  and  heavy. 
"  No,  by  Heavens,  if  I  fail  she  can't  go  on  with  her 
millions."  The  rage  that  possessed  him  made  him 
seemingly  oblivious  to  their  presence.  "  Oh,  what 
a  fool,  a  blind,  contemptible  fool  I've  been!  If  she 
is  worth  a  cent  she  is  worth  four  millions  to-day,  and 
every  cent  I  made  for  her,  I  gave  to  her.  Talk  about 
business  heads,  there  is  not  a  one  of  us  can  touch 


316  MAKING  MONEY 

her.  Oh,  she's  known  all  right  what  she  has  been 
doing  all  these  years.  She  took  no  chances.  She 
knew  when  to  work  me  and  how  to  work  me. 
Clever?  Yes,  she's  clever  and  as  cold  as  they  make 
'em.  Under  all  her  pretense  of  being  weak  and 
sickly,  tears  and  hysterics,  you  can't  beat  her." 

"Oh,  Daddy,  Daddy,"  said  Patsie,  laying  her 
hand  on  his  arm  to  calm  him,  "  she  can't,  she  won't 
refuse  to  come  to  your  help  now  when  it's  a  ques 
tion  of  honor,  our  honor  and  her  honor.  I  know, 
I  promise  you,  we  will  pay  over  every  cent  of  what 
vou  owe." 

"You  think  so?    Try!" 

"  Daddy,"  said  Patsie  quietly,  "  I  have  $500,000 
you  gave  me.  Bo  jo  and  I  tried  our  best  to  sell  them 
and  raise  money  for  you.  If  you  had  only  let  me 
know  sooner  perhaps  we  could  have.  Every  cent  of 
that  will  go  to  you.  Doris,  too,  I  know,  will  give 
her  third.  We  will  only  ask  my  mother  for  what 
•we  are  giving  ourselves.  That  she  will  not  refuse, 
she  cannot,  she  won't  dare.  Daddy,  there  is  one 
thing  you  must  not  worry  about.  We  won't  let  any 
one  say  a  single  word  against  you.  Every  cent  you 
owe  shall  be  paid.  I'll  promise  you  that." 

At  the  first  mention  of  what  she  had  done,  Drake 
turned  and  stared  at  her,  deaf  to  what  had  followed. 
AYhen  she  ended  tears  were  in  his  eyes.  For  a  mo 
ment  he  could  not  control  his  voice. 

"You  did  that?"  he  said  at  last.  "You  would 
have  done  that  ?  " 

"Why,  Dad,"  she  said,  smiling,  "I  couldn't  do 
anything  else." 

He  took  her  suddenly  in  his  arms  and  the  touch 


THE  DELUGE  317 

of  kindness  broke  him  down  where  everything  else 
had  failed.  Bojo  turned  hastily  away,  not  to  in 
trude  on  the  sanctity  of  the  scene.  When  a  long 
moment  afterwards  Patsie  called  him  back  from  the 
window  where  he  had  been  standing  Drake  seemed 
to  have  grown  suddenly  old  and  feeble. 

"  I  want  you  to  wait  here,  Bojo  dear,"  she  said 
as  determined  as  her  father  seemed  without  will  or 
energy.  "  I  am  going  to  settle  this  now.  I  am 
going  to  see  my  mother.  Don't  worry." 

She  went  out  after  bending  lightly  for  a  last  kiss 
and  a  touch  of  her  hand  over  the  weak  shoulders. 

Left  alone,  there  was  a  long  silence.  Finally 
Drake  arose  and  began  to  pace  the  floor,  talking  to 
himself,  stopping  from  time  to  time  with  sudden 
contractions  of  the  arms,  clutches  of  the  fists,  to  take 
a  long  breath  and  shake  his  head.  When  Bojo  was 
least  expecting  it,  he  came  to  him  abruptly  and  said : 

"  Tom,  I  tell  you  this,  and  you  may  believe  I  mean 
it  —  that  it's  going  to  be.  Not  one  cent  will  I  take 
from  that  child.  With  all  that  I  provided  for  the 
others  she's  not  going  to  be  left  a  pauper.  It's  got 
to  be  my  wife  who  stands  by  me  in  this."  In  his 
excitement  he  seized  the  young  man  by  the  wrist  so 
that  the  fingers  cut  into  his  flesh.  "  It's  got  to  be 
her  and  only  her,  do  you  understand,  or  else — " 
He  stopped  with  a  wild  glance,  with  a  disorder  that 
left  Bojo  cold  with  apprehension,  and  suddenly  as 
though  afraid  to  say  too  much  Drake  dropped  the 
young  man's  wrist  roughly  and  went  and  sat  down, 
covering  his  face  with  his  hands. 

"  I  mean  it,"  he  said,  and  several  times  he  repeated 
the  phrase  as  though  to  himself. 


318  MAKING  MONEY 

They  spoke  no  more.  Bojo  on  the  edge  of  his 
chair  sat  staring  at  the  older  man,  turning  over  what 
he  had  heard,  not  daring  to  think.  At  the  end  of  a 
long  wait  a  maid  knocked  and  came  in. 

"  Mr.  Crocker,  please.  Miss  Drake  would  like 
you  to  come  to  her  mother's  room." 

Bojo,  startled,  sprang  up  hastily,  saying:  "All 
right,  right  away."  He  turned,  striving  to  find  a 
word  of  encouragement,  hesitated,  and  went  out. 

When  he  came  into  the  little  sitting  room  which 
gave  on  to  Mrs.  Drake's  private  apartments  he  found 
the  two  confronting  each  other,  Patsie  erect  and 
scornful,  with  flashing,  angry  eyes,  and  her  mother, 
in  a  hastily  donned  wrapper  and  bedroom  cap,  clutch 
ing  a  sort  of  blue  lace  quilt,  sunk  hysterically  in  the 
depths  of  a  great  armchair.  At  the  first  glance  he 
guessed  the  scene  of  cries  and  reproaches  which  had 
just  ended.  At  his  entrance  Mrs.  Drake  burst  out 
furiously : 

"  I  won't  have  it ;  I  won't  be  insulted  like  this. 
Mr.  Crocker,  I  desire  you,  I  command  you,  to  leave 
the  room.  It's  enough  that  my  daughter  should 
take  advantage  of  me.  I  will  not  be  shamed  before 
strangers." 

"  Lock  the  door,"  said  Patsie  quietly,  "  and  keep 
the  key." 

He  did  so  and  came  back  to  her  side. 

"  Don't  mind  what  she  says,"  said  Patsie  scorn 
fully.  "  She's  not  ill,  she's  not  hysterical,  it's  all  put 
on:  she  knows  just  what  she's  doing." 

At  this  Mrs.  Drake  burst  into  exaggerated  sobs 
and  shrank  down  into  the  chair,  covering  her  face 


THE  DELUGE  319 

with  the  quilt  she  clung  to,  without  perception  of 
the  grotesqueness  of  her  act. 

"  Now,  you're  going  to  listen  to  me,"  said  Patsie, 
striving  to  remain  calm  through  her  anger.  "  You 
don't  fool  me  the  least  bit,  so  you  might  just  as  well 
listen  quietly.  I  know  just  how  much  money  you 
have  and  every  cent  of  it  has  been  given  to  you  by 
my  father.  You  are  worth  over  four  million  dol 
lars,  I  know  that." 

"  It's  not  true,  that's  a  lie,"  said  Mrs.  Drake  with 
a  scream. 

"  It  is  true,"  continued  Patsie  calmly,  "  and  you 
know  it's  true.  This  house  is  yours  and  everything 
in  it.  Do  you  want  me  to  tell  you  exactly  what 
stocks  and  bonds  you  have  at  the  present  moment? 
Shall  I  have  my  father  come  in,  too,  and  tell  us  in 
detail  just  what  he  has  given  you  all  these  years? 
Do  you  want  that  ? "  She  waited  a  moment  and 
added  scornfully:  "No,  I  rather  guess  that  is  not 
what  you  want.  I  asked  you  before  to  help  raise 
a  loan  to  save  him  from  losing  what  he  had.  You 
could  have  done  it:  you  refused.  Now  I  am  asking 
you  to  give  exactly  what  I  shall  give  and  what  Doris 
will  give,  $500,000,  so  there  will  be  nothing,  not  the 
slightest  reproach  against  his  good  name,  against  the 
name  you  bear  and  I  bear.  Will  you  do  it  or  not  ?  " 

"  You  don't  know  what  you  are  talking  about," 
cried  the  mother  wildly.  "  It's  $500,000  now,  it's 
$500,000  to-morrow  and  then  it's  everything.  You 
want  me  to  ruin  myself.  You  think  just  because 
he's  gone  on  risking  everything,  just  because  he  never 
could  be  satisfied,  that  I  should  suffer,  too.  You 


320  MAKING  MONEY 

want  me  to  make  a  pauper  of  myself.  Well,  I  won't, 
What  right  had  he  to  risk  money  that  didn't  belong 
to  him  ?  What  right  have  you  to  reproach  me,  abuse 
me?" 

Bojo  attempted  to  burst  in  on  the  stream  of  mean 
ingless  and  repeated  phrases.  He,  too,  saw  through 
the  assumption  of  hysteria,  shielding  behind  a  cloak 
of  weakness  a  cold  and  covetous  woman. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Drake,"  he  said  icily,  "  you  are 
proud  of  your  position  in  society.  Let  me  put  this 
to  you.  Don't  you  realize  that  if  your  husband  fails 
for  a  million  and  a  half  and  you  continue  living  as 
you  have  lived  that  it  will  be  a  public  scandal  ?  Don't 
you  realize  what  people  will  say  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't,"  she  cried :  "  I  don't  admit  any  such 
ridiculous  nonsense.  I  know  that  I  have  a  right  to 
my  life,  to  my  existence.  I  know  what  is  mine  is 
mine.  If  he  has  lost  money,  other  people  have  lost 
money  in  the  same  way  who  gamble  just  as  he  has. 
They  should  take  their  losses,  too,  without  coming  to 
people  who  are  not  responsible,  who  don't  believe  in 
such  things.  And  then  what  good  will  it  do?  The 
money's  mine.  Why  throw  good  money  after  bad? 
I  tell  you  that  he  has  never  had  a  thought  about  the 
duties  and  responsibilities  to  his  family;  I  have.  I 
won't  impoverish  myself;  I  won't  impoverish  my 
family,  I  won't,  I  won't,  and  I  won't  be  badgered 
and  brow-beaten  in  this  brutal  way.  You're  a  bad 
daughter,  you've  always  been  a  disobedient,  wicked 
daughter.  You've  always  been  this  way  to  me  from 
the  first.  Now  you  think  you  can  force  me  into 
this,  but  you  shan't." 


THE  DELUGE  321 

"  Mother,"  started  Patsie  stonily,  but  she  was  in 
terrupted  by  a  fresh  torrent  of  words. 

"  No,  no,  I  can't,  I  won't,  I'm  ill,  I  have  been  ill 
for  days.  Do  you  want  to  kill  me?  I  suppose 
that's  what  you  want.  Go  on.  Put  me  down,  make 
me  ill.  Oh,  my  God,  my  God,  I  can't  stand  it,  I 
can't  stand  it.  I  can't.  Ring  for  the  doctor,  the 
doctor  or  some  one." 

"  Come  away,"  said  Bo  jo,  taking  Patsie  by  the 
arm  as  Mrs.  Drake  went  into  the  paroxysm  which 
she  knew  was  perfectly  assumed.  "  It's  useless  try 
ing  to  say  anything  more  to  her.  To-morrow  per 
haps  Doris  and  her  husband  may  have  more  effect." 

They  went  out  without  even  looking  back. 

Patsie  was  in  such  a  rage  of  indignation,  shaking 
from  head  to  foot,  that  he  had  to  take  her  in  his  arms 
and  quiet  her. 

"What  shall  we  say  to  Daddy?"  she  said  at  last 
in  despair. 

"  Lie,"  he  said.     "  Tell  him  that  it  will  be  done." 

But  when  they  came  back  into  the  library  Drake 
was  gone.  He  didn't  return  all  that  night.  After 
wards  from  what  they  learned  he  must  have  spent 
the  night  hours  in  wandering  about  the  city. 

The  next  morning  Mrs.  Drake  locked  her  doors, 
sent  word  by  a  doctor  that  she  was  too  ill  to  see  any 
one,  that  seeing  them  might  have  disastrous  effects. 
Despite  which  they  forced  an  entrance  and  with 
Doris  and  her  husband  present  went  over  again  the 
same  shameful  and  degrading  scene  of  the  night  be 
fore.  Nothing  could  shake  Mrs.  Drake,  neither  re 
monstrances  nor  scorn  nor  tears.  Drake  returned 


322  MAKING  MONEY 

haggard  and  wild-eyed  towards  noon  to  learn  the 
result,  which  they  were  unable  to  conceal  from  him, 
He  went  out  immediately.  At  five  o'clock  he  was 
taken  to  a  hospital,  having  been  run  over  by  an  auto 
bus.  Various  stories  as  to  how  this  happened  were 
circulated.  The  insurance  company  which  carried 
his  life  insurance  attempted  to  prove  suicide  in  vain. 
The  testimony  of  witnesses  all  seemed  to  point  to 
an  accident.  He  had  started  across  the  street,  had 
lost  his  hat  and  in  stooping  to  pick  it  up  slipped  and 
fallen  underneath  the  wheels. 
Death  resulted  a  few  hours  later. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

THE  AFTER-YEARS 

WHEN  Daniel  Drake's  affairs  were  wound  up  it 
was  found  that  with  the  sums  derived  from 
his  life  insurance  there  remained  a  deficit  of  a 
little  over  $400,000.  In  this  crisis  the  old  loyal  and 
generous  spirit  of  Doris  returned  for  perhaps  the 
last  time.  She  wished  to  take  upon  herself  the  total 
indebtedness,  but  Patsie  would  not  listen  to  this. 
She  would  have  preferred  perhaps  in  her  devotion 
to  the  name  of  her  father  to  have  shouldered  all  the 
responsibility  with  a  certain  fierce  pride.  In  the  end 
the  sum  was  divided.  The  younger  sister  left  the 
house  of  her  mother  and  went  to  stay  for  a  short 
while  at  Doris's. 

It  was  given  out  officially  that  Mrs.  Drake's  health 
had  been  wrecked  by  the  family  catastrophes.  She 
left  shortly  for  Paris,  Rome  and  the  Italian  Riviera, 
where  her  health  speedily  improved  and  she  passed 
the  remainder  of  her  life  as  an  exile  with  a  pro 
nounced  aversion  to  anything  American. 

The  panic  which  swept  over  the  country,  leveling 
the  poor  and  rich  alike,  gradually  subsided  into  a  long 
period  of  depression.  Fred  DeLancy  lost  every  cent 
he  had  and  became  dependent  upon  his  wife's  career. 
He  dropped  completely  out  of  society.  A  few  of  his 
friends  saw  him  at  rare  moments,  but  whenever  he 

323 


MAKING  MONEY 

could  he  avoided  such  encounters,  for  they  recalled 
to  him  the  expectations  of  his  earlier  days.  Fate, 
which  had  played  him  several  rude  turns,  had  how 
ever  a  compensation  in  store.  With  the  arrival  of 
the  dance  craze  several  years  later  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred 
DeLancy,  who  were  of  the  first  to  seize  its  possibili 
ties,  became  suddenly  the  rage  of  society,  and  in  the 
letting  down  of  barriers  that  followed  the  frantic 
rush  from  boredom  among  our  most  conservative 
sets  the  DeLancys  regained  curiously  enough  a  cer 
tain  social  position.  Adversity  had  taught  him  the 
value  of  making  money.  Guided  by  the  hands  of 
one  of  those  remarkable  and  adroit  personages  that 
instigate  and  expand  popularity,  the  press  agent, 
Fernando  Wiskin,  a  genius  of  diplomacy,  the  De 
Lancy  craze  overran  the  country.  They  had  their 
own  restaurant,  with  dancing  studios  attached,  and 
an  after  midnight  dancing  club.  They  appeared  in 
the  movies,  made  trips  to  Europe.  They  set  a  dozen 
fashions,  they  inspired  sculptors,  illustrators  and 
caricaturists,  and  raised  up  a  host  of  imitators,  some 
better  and  some  worse.  Properly  coached,  they  re 
ceived  fees  for  instruction  a  surgeon  might  envy, 
but  as  once  a  gambler  always  a  gambler,  what  they 
made  miraculously  they  spent  hugely,  and  despite  all 
warnings  it  would  surprise  no  one  if  with  the  turn 
ing  of  the  fickle  public  from  one  fad  to  another  the 
DeLancys,  after  spending  $50,000  a  year,  would  end 
just  as  poor  as  they  began. 

Roscoe  Marsh,  hard  hit  by  the  panic,  after  steady 
reverses  consequent  upon  a  rather  visionary  adven 
ture  into  journalism,  found  himself  compelled  to  part 
with  his  newspaper  to  a  syndicate  organized  by  his 


THE  AFTER-YEARS  325 

own  city  editor,  a  man  who  had  come  up  from  the 
ranks,  who  had  long  bided  his  opportunity,  a  self- 
made  American  of  the  type  that  looks  complacently 
upon  the  arrival  in  the  arena  of  the  sons  of  great 
fortunes  with  a  belief  that  an  equalizing  Providence 
has  sent  them  into  the  world  to  be  properly  sheared. 
Marsh,  despite  these  reverses,  still  retained  a  consid 
erable  fortune,  constantly  augmented  by  a  large 
family  of  uncles,  aunts  and  cousins  whose  sole  pur 
pose  in  life  seemed  to  be  to  die  at  opportune  moments. 
He  became  interested  in  many  radical  movements, 
rather  from  the  need  of  dramatic  excitement  than 
love  of  publicity  or  any  deep  conviction.  At  the  bot 
tom,  however,  he  believed  himself  the  most  sincere 
man  in  the  world,  and  for  a  long  time  continued  to 
believe  that  he  had  a  mission  to  perform. 

George  Granning  became  one  of  the  solid  men  of 
the  steel  trade.  Of  the  four  young  men  who  had 
met  that  night  on  the  Astor  roof  and  prophesied  their 
futures  he  was  the  only  one  to  fulfil  his  program 
to  the  minutest  detail.  He  married,  rose  to  the  man 
agership  of  the  Garnett  foundries,  left  them  to  be 
come  general  manager  of  a  subsidiary  to  the  steel 
corporation  at  a  salary  of  which  he  had  never 
dreamed.  He  became  a  close  student  of  industrial 
conditions  and  outside  of  his  business  career  found 
time  to  serve  on  many  boards  of  arbitration  and 
industrial  investigation.  Though  his  intellectual 
growth  had  been  slower  than  his  more  gifted  com 
panions  he  had  never  relinquished  a  single  fact  ac 
quired.  At  thirty-five  he  was  constantly  broaden 
ing,  constantly  curious  for  new  interests.  He  went 
into  politics  and  became  more  and  more  a  power  in 


326  MAKING  MONEY 

party  councils,  and  though  not  aspiring  to  office  him 
self  was  speedily  appointed  to  offices  of  social  re 
search  and  usefulness. 

The  panic  extended  its  paralyzing  influence  over 
the  histories  of  industries  of  the  nation.  A  month 
after  the  events  recorded  in  the  last  chapter  Bo  jo 
was  still  deliberating  on  his  course  of  action  when 
he  learnt  by  accident  the  serious  crisis  confronting 
the  Crocker  Mills.  With  the  knowledge  that  his 
father  needed  him  he  hesitated  no  longer,  and  taking 
the  train  by  impulse  one  morning  arrived  as  his 
father  was  sitting  down  to  breakfast  with  the  an 
nouncement  that  he  had  come  to  stay. 

Before  the  year  was  over  he  had  married  Patsie, 
settled  down  in  the  little  mill  town  to  face  the  ardu 
ous  struggle  for  the  survival  of  the  fabric  which  his 
father  had  so  painfully  erected.  For  three  years  he 
worked  without  respite,  more  arduously  than  he  be 
lieved  it  was  possible  for  any  man  to  work.  Due  to 
this  devotion  the  Crocker  Mills  weathered  the  finan 
cial  depression  and  emerged  triumphantly  with  added 
strength  as  a  leader  and  model  among  factory  com 
munities  of  the  world.  Despite  the  sacrifices  and 
extraordinary  demands  made  upon  his  knowledge 
and  his  youth,  he  found  these  years  the  best  in  his 
life,  with  a  realization  that  his  leadership  had  its 
significance  in  the  welfare  and  growth  of  thousands 
of  employees.  When,  the  battle  won,  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  New  York  and  larger  interests, 
there  were  times  when  he  confided  to  his  wife  that 
life  seemed  to  be  robbed  of  half  its  incentive.  In 
connection  with  Granning,  to  whom  he  had  grown 
closer  in  bonds  of  friendship,  he  devoted  his  time  and 


THE  AFTER-YEARS  327 

money  more  and  more  to  the  problems  of  American 
izing  the  great  alien  industrial  populations  of  this 
country  with  such  enthusiasm  that  he  in  more  than 
one  quarter  was  suspected  of  believing  in  the  most 
radical  socialistic  ideas. 


THE  END 


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